Table of contents (Oglavlenie) from Verses Without Words (Stichi bez slov)

Table of contents (Oglavlenie) from Verses Without Words (Stichi bez slov) by Vasily Kandinsky is a crucial graphic component of the artist’s seminal printmaking portfolio created in 1903. This specific work, classified as a print, functions as the organizational introduction to the larger series, demonstrating Kandinsky’s sophisticated handling of the book arts early in his career.

The medium employed is a woodcut, a technique the artist utilized to great effect in the Verses Without Words project. The comprehensive portfolio was an ambitious undertaking for the time, ultimately comprising twelve primary woodcuts, a dedicated title page, this table of contents, one supplementary woodcut, and a concluding woodcut colophon. The complexity and scope of the edition highlight Kandinsky’s commitment to exploring the expressive potential of print media before his total dedication to abstract painting.

Executed in 1903, this piece offers insight into Kandinsky’s aesthetic evolution as he began transitioning away from strictly representational forms. Although later periods of his work would embrace pure non-objective composition, the style evident in this graphic design reflects his engagement with Art Nouveau and folkloric influences prevalent across European artistic centers. The cultural classification emphasizes the importance of the active dialogue taking place in Paris and other hubs where French influences on graphic design and portfolio distribution were strong during the early 1900s.

The careful design of the Table of contents (Oglavlenie), while functional, showcases Kandinsky’s innate sense of typographic composition and graphic rhythm. The historical importance of this early print is cemented by its inclusion in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.