Wassily Kandinsky
Sounds1913

Not on view

Horizontal woodcut or linocut print with bold black lines and gray wash, depicting horses or large animals, bare branching trees, and a small human figure in a dynamic outdoor scene

Woodblock print or linocut in black and white, vertical format, depicting two abstracted human figures stacked vertically with bold, high-contrast areas of solid black and white and fluid curved lines.

Woodcut print in black and white with bold, expressive lines depicting an abstracted landscape with figures and organic forms, dense diagonal marks creating dynamic movement across the composition; monogram visible at lower right.

Woodcut print in black and white with bold, expressionistic forms; densely cut black areas contrast with white passages of jagged, interlocking abstract and semi-figurative shapes, suggesting dynamic movement across the composition.

Color woodcut of a snow-covered winter landscape, with bold black lines suggesting bare branches and slopes, a dark red-brown structure at center emitting a yellow zigzag form, and patches of blue, gold, and deep red visible at the edges.

Printed illustration of a reclining abstract figure rendered in bold black brushwork within a rounded rectangular border, with the word "FAGOTT" printed below and a small circled monogram at lower right.

Woodcut print in black, white, and gray tones; two robed figures beneath large trees with stylized foliage, a crescent moon visible in the background sky, bold black outlines with flat areas of gray.

Woodcut print in black and white, semi-abstract landscape with bold contrasting forms, scattered small geometric shapes across a central mass, and a monogram stamp in the lower left corner.

Small woodcut print in black ink on white paper, depicting abstracted trees with bold, angular lines and solid black masses suggesting foliage, surrounded by loose gestural marks; partial German text visible below.

Woodcut or linocut print in stark black and white, depicting a standing figure holding a staff beneath a large arching animal skull, rendered in bold high-contrast cutwork with jagged negative space.

Woodcut or linocut print with white abstract lines on a black roughly square ground, depicting an energetic abstract composition of intersecting diagonal lines and organic curving forms.

Woodcut print in black and white with bold, angular forms suggesting a standing figure at left and a large animal at right, with fragmented geometric and organic shapes filling the composition.

Photograph of an open book spread featuring two woodcut prints in black and white. Left page shows a small rectangular woodcut with angular figures and German text below reading 'DAS.' Right page features a large, boldly cut woodcut of distorted, skull-like forms with gaping voids and jagged organic shapes filling the page.

Woodcut or linocut print in stark black and white, depicting two large animal heads with open mouths dominating the upper portion, and smaller struggling figures below, rendered with bold flat shapes and jagged cut lines.

Open book spread with two woodcut prints and German text. Left page shows a small rectangular woodcut with abstracted figures in black and white. Right page features a large, bold woodcut of a distorted skull-like form with jagged black shapes and contorted figures, printed with high-contrast black ink on white paper.

Woodcut print in black and white; a small female figure at lower left is surrounded by sweeping parallel lines, while a larger bearded figure with an open mouth dominates the center-right, rendered in bold expressionist style with a monogram in the upper left corner.

Woodblock print in black, white, and gray tones depicting a crowded scene of abstracted human figures with flat, interlocking shapes and visible grain texture throughout.

Color woodcut print with abstract composition of bold black curvilinear lines over irregular patches of blue, red, purple, and white, with visible wood-grain texture throughout.

Woodcut print in black and white, abstract composition with bold angular forms suggesting a seated figure amid vertical striations, with a monogram in the lower left corner. German text below reads 'Meine Bank ist blau,'

Black and white woodcut or linocut print with bold contrast, depicting a large open-jawed animal head looming over a small arched building with a cross, a crouching figure visible at lower left, all within a rounded square border.

Woodcut or linocut print of a conch shell in high-contrast black and white, with bold flat areas of black ink and white negative space revealing the shell's spiral structure and surface texture.

Black and white woodcut print depicting towering rocky formations with bold, flat shapes and dotted texture. A procession of small figures moves through a dark central passage, while a robed figure stands at lower left amid foliage.

Woodcut print in black and white, abstract composition with dynamic, jagged forms suggesting a tumbling figure amid fragmented angular shapes and sweeping lines, with bold contrasts between solid black areas and white ground; faint reversed Latin text visible through the paper from the reverse side.

Woodcut print in black and gray tones depicting multiple figures in a dynamic scene; two standing figures lean over a prone figure at lower center, with bold angular lines, heavy contrasting blacks, and expressionistic carving throughout.

Woodblock print or ink drawing of a figure in traditional Japanese dress, head bowed and hand raised near the face, rendered in bold black lines with strong contrast on a white ground.

Woodcut or linocut print in black, white, and gray, depicting a semi-abstract landscape with sweeping diagonal forms suggesting wind-bent trees, rocks, and foliage; bold contrasts between flat black shapes and white negative space, with a monogram in the lower left corner.

Ink rubbing or print of a Chinese seal with a rounded rectangular border, containing seal script characters in black and white relief.

Black and white woodcut print depicting two highly stylized figures flanking a dark tree trunk, their elongated hands reaching toward each other at center, rendered with bold contrast and angular forms. A small monogram appears at lower left.

Woodcut print in black and white, roughly circular composition with fragmented, angular figures and swirling forms rendered in bold high-contrast cuts; the word "WASSER" printed in capital letters below.

Woodcut print in black and white depicting a dog or wolf-like animal in motion, rendered with bold contrast and diagonal hatching lines against a solid black background within an irregular oval border.

Black ink drawing on white ground with energetic, gestural linework; fragmented figurative forms including limbs, an animal head in solid black, and an ear emerge from sweeping curves and bold calligraphic strokes.

Woodcut print in black and white; two large silhouetted figures face each other in a landscape, with small rounded objects on the ground between them and horizontal streaks suggesting wind or sky.

Woodblock print in black, white, and gray tones, oval composition featuring two standing figures at left, a rearing horse at center, and a spotted creature at right, set against stylized mountains and trees with teardrop shapes falling from above, bold flat areas with visible grain texture.

Black and white print with abstract composition of bold black forms, sweeping curved lines, and irregular ink masses distributed across a white ground, with a crosshatched cluster near the lower center.

Woodcut print in black and white with bold, angular forms suggesting a figure beneath arching trees or foliage, rendered in dynamic high-contrast shapes with a monogram at lower right.

Woodcut or linocut print in black and white, abstract composition with bold jagged edges, flowing curved lines suggesting a reclining figure, and dense black areas at top left and bottom contrasting with white space and fine parallel striations.

Black and white print with flat graphic style; three figures in ornate robes stand in a stylized nocturnal landscape with swirling cloud forms and scattered white dots suggesting snow or stars; a monogram appears in the lower right corner.

Woodcut print in stark black and white; at right, three robed figures stand clustered beneath an arched form, while at lower left a small figure appears amid a landscape of bold organic shapes and scattered fragments across the upper left.

Woodcut print in black and white depicting a ruined stone tower or gate with an arched opening, surrounded by scattered rubble and rounded stone forms in the foreground, bold contrasting areas with jagged cut marks suggesting texture and vegetation.

Woodcut print in black and white, abstract composition with bold carved lines depicting a schematic figure holding a wind instrument, surrounded by angular and curved forms.

Black and white print featuring a roughly circular form with bold, irregular outlines enclosing abstracted figural shapes in high-contrast black ink, above the text "WEISSER SCHAU" in spaced capital letters.

Woodcut print in black and white; a solid black animal figure, possibly a bear or large dog, rears up on a ridged, wave-like landscape at left, while a small standing human silhouette faces an oval shape in the upper right sky.

Black and white print with loosely abstracted human and animal figures rendered in bold ink lines, scattered across a white ground, with a small triangle monogram at lower left.

Woodblock print in black and white depicting an outdoor fountain with arching jets of water in a circular basin, set against a dark background; paved walkway and small figures visible at right, bold carved linework throughout.

Woodcut print in black and white with bold, angular forms suggesting a large animal head at right and abstracted figures or architectural elements at left, printed with high-contrast flat areas and jagged cut lines.

Woodcut or linocut print in black, white, and gray tones; stylized scene with a large dark silhouetted figure at left, two standing figures in 1920s dress and hats at center, and additional partial figures below, with bold flat shapes and abstracted forms throughout.

Black and white woodcut or linocut print depicting a dense crowd of simplified human figures with featureless oval faces, standing shoulder to shoulder in a horizontal band across the center. Above them, bold abstract forms suggest trees or foliage with strong striped patterning; industrial or architectural elements appear at upper right. Thick black areas frame the top and bottom of the composition, with bold, flat graphic linework throughout.

Print or ink drawing with an irregular black ovoid shape containing white organic forms and two spotted, net-patterned areas at lower left and right, on a white ground.

Woodcut print in black and gray tones depicting a landscape with stylized figures; a robed figure with a staff at center-left, a reclining spotted animal at upper right, a crouched figure at lower right, and a small crucifix in the middle distance, rendered with bold graphic lines and flat tonal areas.

Woodcut print in black and white depicting a robed figure bending over a swaddled infant, rendered in bold angular lines with a densely patterned background of curved and geometric forms. Monogram visible at lower left.

Woodcut print in stark black and white, depicting a landscape with figures, a boat with passengers, and a robed figure in the foreground, rendered in bold, jagged cuts with heavy black masses and a monogram in the upper right corner.

Black ink print on white ground, a horizontal band of bold black shapes suggesting two low rocky forms with oval voids, flanked by scattered smaller fragments above

Woodcut or linocut print in black and white; a circular emblem with dashed border enclosing a rearing horse and rider rendered in bold, graphic negative space.

Woodcut or line-print illustration in a tall vertical format alongside German text. A small patterned figure stands at the bottom before a dark mountainous form; dense stylized vegetation fills the lower portion, while abstract cloud shapes with curved marks float above.

Woodblock print or linocut in black and white, depicting a reclining figure with a simplified face at upper right, a long diagonal staff or instrument extending across the composition, and a rounded form at lower left, with white lines incised against a solid black ground.

Woodcut print with bold black abstract composition; angular and curved lines intersect within a roughly oval form against a white background, creating interlocking positive and negative shapes with visible grain texture.

Artist or Maker: Wassily Kandinsky
Russia, also active Germany and France, 1866–1944
Title: Sounds
Place Made: Germany, Munich
Date Made: 1913
Medium: Printed material with fifty-six woodcuts on Van Gelder paper
Dimensions: Overall: 11 1/4 x 11 1/4 x 1/2 in. (28.575 x 28.58 x 1.27 cm)
Credit Line: The Robert Gore Rifkind Center for German Expressionist Studies, purchased with funds provided by Anna Bing Arnold, Museum Associates Acquisition Fund, and deaccession funds
Accession Number: 83.1.102.1-.56
Classification: Books
Collecting Area: Robert Gore Rifkind Center for German Expressionist Studies
Selected Bibliography: Davis, Bruce. German Expressionist Prints and Drawings: The Robert Gore Rifkind Center for German Expressionist Studies. Los Angeles, CA: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1989; Munich, Germany: Prestel, 1989.
Barron, Stephanie et al. Degenerate Art: The Fate of the Avant-Garde in Nazi Germany. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1991.
Tuchman, Maurice; R. Welsh; C. Blotkamp; C. Eldredge; S. Ringbom; Å. Fant; J. Bowlt; C. Douglas; R. Long; L. Henderson; H. Watts; J. Moffitt; W. Rushing; W. Moritz; D. Kuspit; G. Imanse; E. Kasinec; B. Kerdimun; R. Galbreath; Judi Freeman. The Spiritual in Art: Abstract Painting 1890-1985. New York: Abbeville Press, 1986.
Reed, Orrel P., German expressionist art: the Robert Gore Rifkind Collection: prints, drawings, illustrated books, periodicals, posters. Exhibition Catalogue. Los Angeles: Frederick S. Wight Art Gallery, University of California, Los Angeles, 1977.
Roethel, Hans Konrad. Kandinsky: das graphische Werk. Köln: M. Dumont Schauberg, 1970.

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