Vignette for "Pyramid" (Vignette next to "Pyramide") (headpiece, page 32) from Über das Geistige in der Kunst (Concerning the Spiritual in Art)

The work titled Vignette for "Pyramid" (Vignette next to "Pyramide") (headpiece, page 32) from Über das Geistige in der Kunst (Concerning the Spiritual in Art) was created by Vasily Kandinsky in 1911. This small but artistically significant piece is a woodcut, originating from an illustrated book that contained eleven such prints. The publication, which translates to Concerning the Spiritual in Art, served as Kandinsky’s seminal theoretical treatise on the necessity of non-objective painting and the emotional resonance of color and form, solidifying his role in the transition toward pure abstraction.

The medium of the woodcut allowed Kandinsky to produce stark, high-contrast imagery perfectly suited to illustrate abstract concepts. Executed in 1911, the year of the book’s publication, the work functions as a diagrammatic vignette, accompanying the pivotal section where the artist discusses the metaphor of the societal and spiritual pyramid. In this metaphor, the base represents the materialistic masses, while the apex is occupied by the lone artist leading humanity toward the "spiritual" future. The abstract nature of the print, defined by heavy black lines and simplified shapes, exemplifies the emerging Expressionist style prevalent in Kandinsky's output immediately preceding the formation of Der Blaue Reiter.

Although Kandinsky was Russian, the intellectual and artistic fervor surrounding Modernism often transcended national boundaries, placing this piece within the broader context of European avant-garde illustrated books of the period. This work demonstrates Kandinsky's dedication to graphic media, utilizing prints as a vehicle for disseminating avant-garde concepts beyond the confines of the gallery space. The importance of this book segment is recognized by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where it is held in the permanent collection, ensuring the preservation and accessibility of these foundational examples of early 20th-century abstraction.