Small Worlds XI (Kleine Welten XI) from Small Worlds (Kleine Welten)

Small Worlds XI (Kleine Welten XI) from Small Worlds (Kleine Welten) is a pivotal graphic work created by Vasily Kandinsky in 1922. This piece is one of four drypoints included within the highly influential Kleine Welten portfolio, which comprised twelve diverse prints designed during a period of intense experimentation for the artist. The complete series showcased Kandinsky's technical range, incorporating six lithographs (two of which were transferred from earlier woodcuts), four drypoints, and two original woodcuts. The year 1922 marked Kandinsky's return to Germany to teach at the Bauhaus, a time when he fully embraced geometry and standardized abstraction, moving away from the more fluid expressionism of his pre-war Munich years.

As a drypoint, the technique relies on a sharp point to etch lines directly into a metal plate, creating a distinctive burr that results in soft, velvety lines when printed. Small Worlds XI exemplifies the dramatic shift in Kandinsky’s aesthetic following World War I, employing dynamic diagonal vectors and clustered geometric forms characteristic of his post-Bauhaus theoretical work. This print reflects the transition toward a more structured, analytical style of abstraction, utilizing precise balance and rhythmic composition that define his mature period.

The cultural classification of the series often references the French period due to the influence and collection history relevant to its initial dissemination in the early 1920s. The entire Small Worlds series is critical to understanding the evolution of modern graphic art, demonstrating how Kandinsky integrated line and plane within a confined space. This historically significant print remains a key example of the artist’s mastery of the graphic medium during this transformative year and is currently preserved in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, ensuring its availability for ongoing scholarly reference and study.