Plate (folio 8) from Fraternity by Vasily Kandinsky is a key component of the illustrated book project published in 1939. Categorized specifically as an Illustrated Book of French culture and origin, the complete work includes eight engravings executed through varied intaglio techniques, often accompanied by text. This specific folio is rendered in drypoint, showcasing Kandinsky’s sustained commitment to linear abstraction during the final decade of his career. Created just before the outbreak of World War II, the collection of prints in Fraternity represents an important moment in the artist’s engagement with graphic arts while residing in France.
While the full book utilizes a complex array of printmaking processes, including etching, aquatint, and roulette, Plate (folio 8) demonstrates Kandinsky’s characteristic handling of drypoint. This technique, achieved by incising directly into the plate with a sharp needle, generates a velvety burr around the line, lending the resulting imagery a unique, softened appearance. Kandinsky masterfully harnesses this texture, deploying delicate, yet precise geometric and organic forms that float across the surface. The composition favors a sparse approach, emphasizing the interplay between light, shadow, and kinetic lines, which differentiates it from the dense color fields found in his concurrent oil paintings.
The graphic works created by Kandinsky around 1939 often reflect the culmination of his pioneering abstract philosophy, moving beyond the pure expressionism of his earlier periods toward a rigorous synthesis of structural geometry and fluid movement. This piece, along with the other drypoint and etching plates in the Fraternity portfolio, offers valuable insight into the artist’s dedication to multiplying his artistic vision through high-quality graphic reproduction. Today, this significant Illustrated Book resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, ensuring its accessibility for study alongside other major works by Kandinsky.
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