Small Worlds X (Kleine Welten X) from Smalls Worlds (Kleine Welten)

Small Worlds X (Kleine Welten X) from Smalls Worlds (Kleine Welten) by Vasily Kandinsky is a crucial print created in 1922. This piece is the tenth image in the complete Kleine Welten portfolio, a pivotal moment in the artist's move toward strict geometric abstraction following his return to Germany and his affiliation with the Bauhaus school.

The work is specifically rendered using the drypoint technique, which allows for rich, velvety lines and subtle tonal variations. The complete portfolio demonstrates Kandinsky's experimental approach to graphic arts, featuring a diverse structure of twelve pieces: six lithographs (including two transferred from woodcuts), four drypoints, and two straight woodcuts. This comprehensive variety showcases Kandinsky’s commitment to exploring how differing print processes could translate the complexity of his abstract visual vocabulary.

The composition of Small Worlds X reflects the increasingly structured and ordered style Kandinsky favored during the early 1920s. While associated generally with French culture of the period, the piece synthesizes the geometric discipline learned during his time in Russia with the theoretical rigor of the Bauhaus. The artist employs non-representational, floating forms and dynamic lines to suggest movement and internal cosmic energy, hallmarks of his mature abstract style. The technical mastery shown in these 1922 prints solidified Kandinsky’s importance as both a painter and a graphic artist.

This significant example of early modernist abstraction currently resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, underscoring its historical relevance to 20th-century art. The enduring impact of these rare prints ensures that the visual language developed by Kandinsky remains widely studied. Because of its age and cultural impact, certain images from the original portfolio have entered the public domain, allowing greater access to this essential body of work.