Small Worlds IV (Kleine Welten IV) from Small Worlds (Kleine Welten) by Vasily Kandinsky is a seminal lithograph created in 1922. This piece is one of twelve prints that compose the comprehensive Small Worlds portfolio, a pivotal publishing project for the artist illustrating his profound commitment to geometric abstraction after joining the Bauhaus in Weimar. The portfolio, released by Edition Propyläen, Berlin, comprised six lithographs, four drypoints, and two woodcuts, demonstrating Kandinsky’s mastery across multiple printmaking disciplines during this highly productive period.
The medium of lithography allowed Kandinsky to explore complex linear dynamics and precise, layered forms. Small Worlds IV (Kleine Welten IV) features a dense configuration of structural elements, including sharp diagonals, arcs, and overlapping rectilinear shapes, unified by a central, almost architectural focus. This work exemplifies the critical transition in the artist's style during the early 1920s, moving from the purely improvisational abstraction of his Munich years toward a more structured, yet equally spiritual, formal language. Kandinsky perfected the balance between structural containment and kinetic energy, utilizing defined lines and angles to orchestrate movement within the composition, suggesting both microscopic views and cosmic dynamics.
Although Kandinsky was primarily situated within the German avant-garde at this time, the wide distribution of these prints quickly solidified his reputation across Europe and America, confirming his significance to the French culture and international abstract movements of the 1922 era. The portfolio’s conceptual depth and technical breadth made it a cornerstone for future abstract printmaking. This exceptional example of graphic abstraction is permanently housed in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, where it serves as a critical document of Kandinsky's development and his unparalleled contribution to the history of abstract prints.
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