Vignette next to "Spring" (Vignette bei "Lenz") (headpiece, folio 51 verso) from Klänge (Sounds)

Vignette next to "Spring" (Vignette bei "Lenz") (headpiece, folio 51 verso) from Klänge (Sounds) by Vasily Kandinsky is a pivotal example of the artist’s groundbreaking shift toward pure abstraction in the early twentieth century. Executed in 1913, this woodcut is one of fifty-six prints created for Kandinsky’s crucial illustrated book, Klänge (Sounds). This publication served as a fusion of visual and poetic expression, pairing abstract images with experimental, highly rhythmic verse. The classification of the work as an Illustrated Book highlights the revolutionary merging of artistic disciplines sought by the Modernist movement.

The medium of the woodcut allowed Kandinsky to employ sharp, simplified forms and dense black areas contrasted with powerful negative space, aligning perfectly with the dynamic aesthetic principles of German Expressionism prevalent during the period. Kandinsky, whose primary goal was the establishment of a synesthetic connection between sound, color, and form, used these stark compositions to explore the linear energy and rhythmic organization of non-representational art. This small headpiece, situated on folio 51 verso, specifically accompanied the abstract poem or text titled "Lenz" (Spring).

Although Kandinsky was of Russian origin, the work is categorized within the sphere of French culture in the museum’s documentation, reflecting the international, pan-European nature of the avant-garde in 1913. Kandinsky’s interest lay in translating internal emotional states and audible experiences into visual forms that transcended direct representation. Unlike his oil paintings of the same era, the black-and-white prints in Klänge emphasize linear structure, serving as visual echoes to the accompanying text, thus enhancing the reader’s sensory experience of the book as a whole. Vignette next to "Spring" is held in the prestigious collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), recognizing its central role in defining the trajectory of abstract art. The powerful simplicity and accessibility of the woodcut medium ensure that prints of this influential project continue to define Kandinsky’s commitment to unifying art forms.