Klänge
Artist: Wassily Kandinsky (Russian, 1866-1944)
Publisher: R. Piper & Co. (Munich, [1913])
Date: [1913]
Dimensions:
Book: H: 11 1/4 in. (285 mm); W: 11 1/4 in. (286 mm); Depth: 5/8 in. (16 mm).
Page: H: 11 1/16 in. (281 mm); W: 10 7/8 in. (277 mm).
Medium: Original prints: 12 woodcuts in colors on ivory laid paper; 44 woodcuts in black on Van Gelder cream laid paper, watermarked.
Text: letterpress in black with deep purple (typeface: Akzidenz Grotesk Bold).
Classification: Books
Credit Line: Gift of Molly and Walter Bareiss
Object number: 1984.599
Label Text:One of the major illustrated books of this century, KLANGE (SOUNDS) is comprised of 38 sonorous prose poems, written between 1908 and 1913, and a series of illustrations which provide a cross-section of Kandinsky's graphic style from 1907 through 1912. The images range from folk art to horses and riders to bold non-objective designs. An excellent example of book design, each page shows a powerful rhythmic tension between the woodcut image and the type. With KLANGE (sounds) Kandinsky is both author and artist. The book is comprised of thirty-eight sonorous prose poems, written between 1908 and 1913, and a series of illustrations which provide a cross section of Kandinsky's graphic style from 1907 through 1912. During this period, Kandinsky was a pioneer in creating art in which line and form was freed from representing material appearance, leaving the " inner sound" of the thing itself to blare. The woodcuts range from late "jugendstil" to borrowing from folk art to horses and riders to bold non-objective images. An excellent example of book design, each set of two pages shows a powerful rhythmic tension between the woodcut illustrations and the type.
In Klänge, Vassily Kandinsky's 38 prose-poems are accompanied by 56 of his woodcuts. The woodcuts do not illustrate the text, but instead images and words complement each other in a harmonious way. Both display an intense involvement in the relationship between movement, sound, and color. The word klänge is a musical term meaning “sounds” or “harmonies.” Kandinsky described his aims: “The book is called Sounds. I do not want to create anything but sounds. But they build out of themselves. That is the description of the contents, the inner contents. This is the foundation on which it grew, partly by itself, partly thanks to the cold hand of the calculating gardener.”
In the image displayed, Kandinsky depicts a free impression of nature: three boats with long, red oars and blue passengers set against trees, mountains, and sky.
In Klänge, Vassily Kandinsky's 38 prose-poems are accompanied by 56 of his woodcuts. The woodcuts do not illustrate the text, but instead images and words complement each other in a harmonious way. Both display an intense involvement in the relationship between movement, sound, and color. The word klänge is a musical term meaning “sounds” or “harmonies.” Kandinsky described his aims: “The book is called Sounds. I do not want to create anything but sounds. But they build out of themselves. That is the description of the contents, the inner contents. This is the foundation on which it grew, partly by itself, partly thanks to the cold hand of the calculating gardener.”
In the image displayed, Kandinsky depicts a free impression of nature: three boats with long, red oars and blue passengers set against trees, mountains, and sky.
Not on view
In Collection(s)