Joyous Ascent (Fröhlicher Aufstieg) from Masters' Portfolio of the Staatliches Bauhaus (Meistermappe des Staatlichen Bauhauses) is a pivotal 1923 lithograph by the influential abstract pioneer Vasily Kandinsky. Created during his tenure as a master at the Weimar Bauhaus, this print exemplifies the rigorous combination of geometric formalism and expressive abstraction that characterized his output during the early 1920s. This lithograph formed a crucial component of the highly valued Meistermappe, a portfolio of eight important prints including three lithographs, three woodcuts, and two etchings, designed to showcase and fund the work of the Bauhaus faculty.
The print emphasizes the critical role of printmaking in disseminating the aesthetic ideals of the influential German design school internationally. Kandinsky had returned to Germany after the Russian Revolution, finding a new platform for his theoretical and artistic explorations at the famed institution. The composition of Joyous Ascent utilizes floating, interlocking geometric shapes, including precise triangles, arcs, and curved lines, often centered around a central, implied vertical trajectory. This dynamic arrangement suggests upward movement and spiritual elevation, a key conceptual concern for the artist throughout his career. The visual language here is highly regulated, reflecting the pedagogical emphasis on basic forms and color theory taught in the preliminary courses at the school.
Although the artist was Russian and created the work while teaching in Germany, the portfolio’s classification is often listed as French, reflecting the international distribution and complex, transient nature of avant-garde production networks in the immediate post-war period. This particular work, classified as a fine art print, demonstrates Kandinsky’s sustained commitment to translating complex abstract ideas through the demanding but democratic medium of lithography. The availability of these carefully produced prints, dated 1923, was essential both for the Bauhaus's financial stability and for extending its influence. Joyous Ascent is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, underscoring its historical importance within the legacy of 20th-century abstraction.
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