Fountain (Springbrunnen) (headpiece, folio 45) from Klänge (Sounds)

Fountain (Springbrunnen) (headpiece, folio 45) from Klänge (Sounds) by Vasily Kandinsky is a pivotal example of the artist's exploration into abstraction, executed in 1913. This piece is a woodcut, a medium the artist favored for its immediacy and stark expressive qualities. It is one of fifty-six woodcuts that comprised the renowned illustrated book, Klänge (Sounds), a landmark publication published in Munich that combined Kandinsky's experimental poetry with his visual art, cementing his role as a pioneer of non-objective art.

The choice of the woodcut technique allowed Kandinsky to produce stark, graphic images characterized by bold black lines and white space, mirroring the energetic and disruptive forms of Expressionism. The composition of this specific headpiece, though abstract, retains a sense of dynamic flow suggested by the title Fountain (Springbrunnen). Kandinsky’s use of simplified forms moves away from traditional representation toward the articulation of internal, spiritual truths, reflecting his comprehensive theory on the synthesis of the arts (Gesamtkunstwerk).

Created during a crucial period of artistic upheaval, this 1913 work demonstrates the rapid spread of modernism across Europe. Though Kandinsky was Russian and the book was printed in Germany, its influence quickly permeated the artistic environment, contributing significantly to the cultural discourse in centers like France. The format of the illustrated book ensured that these radical new prints were widely accessible, propagating abstract theories to a broad international audience. Today, the work is classified as an illustrated book print and is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. High-quality prints of this historical work are often utilized in educational settings, sometimes becoming available through public domain initiatives, allowing continued study of Kandinsky’s revolutionary output.