Final answer:
Wassily Kandinsky was the artist who first transitioned to nonrepresentational imagery, pioneering abstract art.
Step-by-step explanation:
The artist who was virtually the first to make a switch to totally nonrepresentational imagery was Wassily Kandinsky.
Kandinsky is considered the pioneer of abstract art and is widely recognized as one of the founders of abstract painting. His works, such as "Composition VII" and "Yellow-Red-Blue," are prime examples of his nonrepresentational style, where he focused on the expression of emotions and spiritual elements through color and form, rather than depicting recognizable objects.
Learn more about Abstract art