Departure (Prošcanie) from Verses Without Words (Stichi bez slov)

Departure (Prošcanie) from Verses Without Words (Stichi bez slov) by Vasily Kandinsky is a crucial early example of the artist’s graphic work, executed in 1903. This classification print is a woodcut, originating from the significant portfolio Verses Without Words (Stichi bez slov), which contained twelve primary woodcuts, along with supplementary prints for the title page, table of contents, and colophon. This early exploration of printmaking showcases Kandinsky’s emerging visual language and his engagement with narrative structure before his definitive shift toward pure abstraction. The artwork currently resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

Produced during a period when the Russian-born artist was deeply influenced by European artistic developments, this woodcut reflects the fin-de-siècle sensibilities prevalent in Munich and Paris. Though often associated with German Expressionism later in his career, Kandinsky’s style around 1903 reveals the lingering influence of French Symbolism and Art Nouveau aesthetics, characterized by flattened forms and strong linear definition inherent to the woodcut medium. The deliberate use of stark black and white contrasts maximizes the dramatic impact of the scene—a sense of farewell or transition suggested by the title, Departure (Prošcanie). As a highly reproducible medium, the woodcut format ensured that these early, evocative prints were disseminated widely.

The entire Verses Without Words portfolio represents a vital step in Kandinsky’s career, demonstrating his conviction that pure visual form could function poetically without explicit textual accompaniment. By focusing on graphic prints, Kandinsky was able to rapidly refine his understanding of composition, color reduction, and line economy—lessons that would soon inform his revolutionary abstract paintings. Given the age and historical significance of the piece, examples of these influential early prints sometimes enter the public domain, allowing wider study of Kandinsky’s formative years around 1903. This work remains highly valued not just as a historical document but as a masterful piece of early 20th-century printmaking.