The Birds (Les Oiseaux) from Xylographs (Xylographies)

The Birds (Les Oiseaux) from Xylographs (Xylographies) is a significant print by Vasily Kandinsky, created in 1907 and formally published in 1909. This piece belongs to a portfolio comprising eight heliogravures meticulously executed after Kandinsky’s original woodcuts. The technical medium, heliogravure, is a photomechanical process that enabled the fine reproduction of the heavy, textured lines characteristic of the artist’s early graphic experiments.

Though Russian in origin, Kandinsky was deeply engaged with international artistic currents of the early 20th century. The cultural setting of this publication, linked to French artistic production and distribution networks in 1909, highlights the transitional influences shaping his practice. During this period, Kandinsky was actively moving toward the pure abstraction that would define his later career. Works like The Birds showcase his early mastery of the Expressionist woodcut tradition, where figures and natural subjects, in this case, birds, are reduced to dynamic, angular forms.

Classified as a print, the work demonstrates Kandinsky's commitment to graphic arts as a vehicle for artistic innovation. The powerful simplicity and high contrast achieved in the original woodcuts are accurately conveyed through the heliogravure process, underscoring the shift away from representational art toward the emotional impact of line and form. This important example of early modern prints resides within the prestigious collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. As a seminal work from the period of 1907, published 1909, related studies and reproductions of this series are frequently referenced and available through institutional and public domain collections globally.