Vignette next to "Bassoon" (Vignette bei "Fagott") (headpiece, folio 10) from Klänge (Sounds)

The work Vignette next to "Bassoon" (Vignette bei "Fagott") (headpiece, folio 10) from Klänge (Sounds) was created by Vasily Kandinsky in 1913. This piece is one of fifty-six woodcuts that comprise the seminal illustrated book, Klänge (Sounds), a pivotal early document in abstract art theory and practice. Published during a crucial era of German Expressionism and the international avant-garde, the book combined Kandinsky's experimental poetry with his non-objective visual works, reflecting his deep, lifelong interest in synesthesia, the interplay between sound and color.

Kandinsky utilized the inherent graphic capabilities of the woodcut technique, employing strong, dark lines and stark contrasts to achieve expressive intensity. The medium lent itself perfectly to the creation of abstract forms and simplified, energetic compositions. Although the vignette is abstract, its position next to the written title "Bassoon" ties the visual structure directly to musical concepts, a constant theme throughout Kandinsky’s oeuvre. This particular book, while conceptually rooted in Kandinsky’s Munich circle, is cataloged under French culture, highlighting the international circulation and influence of these revolutionary prints and publications during this fertile artistic period.

This small but significant woodcut exemplifies the dynamic shift toward pure abstraction that Kandinsky championed in the period leading up to World War I. The composition captures the artist's focus on non-representational forms as carriers of spiritual and emotional content, moving away from illustrative narrative toward pure visual music. This piece, dating from the crucial year of 1913, remains a primary reference for the study of abstraction. As a rare edition of early twentieth-century prints, the work resides in the distinguished collection of the Museum of Modern Art, ensuring its continued preservation and accessibility for scholars and the public.