Lyrical (Lyrisches) (plate, folio 9) from Klänge (Sounds)

Lyrical (Lyrisches) (plate, folio 9) from Klänge (Sounds) is a seminal woodcut created by Vasily Kandinsky in 1913. Classified as an illustrated book, this piece is one of fifty-six prints contained within Klänge, the artist’s pivotal volume of abstract prose poems and graphic works that solidified his transition into non-objective art. The publication of this book occurred at a critical moment for European Modernism, aligning with Expressionist movements and the spread of avant-garde ideas often circulated through major centers of French culture.

The print medium itself is central to the work’s impact. Kandinsky extensively employed the woodcut technique during this period, valuing its capacity for raw expressive power and the immediate contrast between sharp, dark lines and the surrounding negative space. This piece captures the graphic intensity achieved through the medium, translating the inner spiritual necessity of art—a primary theory advocated by Kandinsky—into visual form. Unlike some of his oil paintings, which employed lush, conflicting colors, this woodcut uses abstraction, rhythm, and simplified geometry to create a lyrical, almost musical composition on the page, reflecting the book's title, Klänge (Sounds).

Produced just before the outbreak of World War I, the visual language of the 1913 print showcases the formal innovations that would define later abstract art. Kandinsky sought to break the ties between subject matter and representation, allowing pure form to evoke feeling directly, much like music. This historic illustrated book remains a vital document of early abstraction and demonstrates the versatility of the printmaking process. This significant work is preserved within the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, underscoring its historical importance to the development of early twentieth-century modernism.