Night (Noc) from Verses Without Words (Stichi bez slov)

Night (Noc) from Verses Without Words (Stichi bez slov) is a significant early print by Vasily Kandinsky, created in 1903. This classification of artwork is a striking woodcut, executed as one of the twelve core components of a highly detailed portfolio that also included a woodcut title page, a table of contents, a supplementary piece, and a colophon. Created during a foundational period in the artist’s development, this specific print aligns with the cultural and aesthetic trends prevalent in the European, particularly French, art world at the turn of the century. Though Russian by birth, Kandinsky’s exposure to Art Nouveau and Symbolist movements while working within this cultural sphere heavily informed the graphic style seen in this early collection of prints.

The choice of the woodcut medium naturally lent itself to dramatic simplification and strong linear definition. Kandinsky utilized these characteristics effectively to capture the mood implied by the title "Night." While still retaining figural elements, this work exemplifies the artist's developing graphic sensibility, characterized by highly simplified forms and an emphasis on expressive line work. The strength of the compositions within the Verses Without Words portfolio helped solidify Kandinsky’s early reputation as an innovator in graphic design.

This singular work, along with the complete portfolio, serves as crucial documentation of the artist's stylistic evolution around 1903. The focus on expressive form and non-linear narrative foreshadowed the complete breakdown of representation that would define Kandinsky's subsequent abstract career. Recognized globally for its importance to the history of modern art and printmaking, the work resides in the distinguished collection of the Museum of Modern Art.