Improvisation 22, Variation I (Improvisation 22, Variation I) (headpiece, folio 31) from Klänge (Sounds)

Improvisation 22, Variation I (Improvisation 22, Variation I) (headpiece, folio 31) from Klänge (Sounds) is a seminal print created by Vasily Kandinsky in 1913. This specific image is one of the fifty-six expressive woodcuts that comprised the influential illustrated book Klänge (Sounds), first published in Munich. As a critical example of the artist’s graphic output during the height of German Expressionism and the emergence of abstraction, the work positions visual form as the equivalent of musical expression, a concept central to Kandinsky’s philosophy. The woodcut medium, employed for its sharp contrasts and immediate, angular line quality, defines the expressive energy characteristic of his early abstract period.

The year (1913) marks a watershed moment in European modernism, as artists pushed past the representational constraints of the previous century. Although published in Germany, the profound philosophical and formal influence of this body of work resonated throughout the continent, greatly impacting the development of abstraction within the French avant-garde and beyond. Kandinsky sought to liberate color and line from traditional narrative demands, treating the page like a spontaneous, non-objective score.

The composition of Improvisation 22, Variation I features densely packed, energetic forms defined by bold lines and varying planes of black and white. This style is typical of the artist's Improvisation series, which explored intuitive, subconscious responses to spiritual or musical elements, emphasizing dynamism and inner necessity over structured design. These powerful early abstract prints are foundational reference points for studying the historical trajectory of non-objective art. Classified formally as an Illustrated Book, Klänge served as both a literary text, pairing Kandinsky’s free verse with his pioneering visuals. The entire series stands as one of the most significant achievements in early 20th-century printmaking, documenting the artist’s commitment to synthesizing different art forms. This impression of the work is preserved in the prestigious collection of the Museum of Modern Art.