Wassily Kandinsky's work was shown in Sweden in 1914 for the first time, and in 1916 for the second time. A pioneer of abstract art, the reception of Kandinsky's paintings ranged from "sensational" to "not considered to be art" (the reason why the city of Malmo decided not to buy the paintings even for a bargain price). In 1916 Kandinsky's partner Gabriele Munter arranged a sales show for him in Stockholm, where they spent three month together in 1915-16. The show received reviews in all important newspapers, and Kandinsky became personally acquainted with Stockholm's major artists, critics and art historians.