Verses Without Words (Stichi bez slov)
Vasily Kandinsky
French, born Russia. 1866–1944
1903
A printed woodcut title page for Kandinsky’s 1903 portfolio Verses Without Words, in which the artist uses carved imagery to evoke poetic, mystical moods rather than literal narrative.
A single circular, ivory-on-black vignette commands attention—clouds curl above a robed central figure flanked by stylized horses, a church steeple and a prowling cat, all framed by a sinuous wreath and topped and bottomed with hand-lettered Cyrillic titles.
An early example of Kandinsky’s fusion of folk motifs, symbolism and printmaking that helped move him from representational illustration toward the spiritualized, increasingly abstract vocabulary that would influence modern art.
Medium
Portfolio of twelve woodcuts, one woodcut title page, one woodcut table of contents, one supplementary woodcut, and one woodcut colophon
Dimensions
composition: see child records; sheet: see child records; mount (each approx.): 12 15/16 x 9 13/16" (32.9 x 24.9 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Gift of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd
Accession
580.1966.1-15
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
