Klänge Pl.09 1913

This is Klänge Pl.09, a woodcut by Wassily Kandinsky. I love the way the image emerges from the stark contrast of black and white. Imagine Kandinsky carving into the wood block, each cut a deliberate act, revealing the forms within. There is a sense of dynamism in the abstract shapes and lines. It's almost musical, resonating with Kandinsky’s interest in synesthesia—the merging of senses. I can imagine the artist thinking about the relationship between art and music, experimenting with abstraction to evoke emotional and spiritual experiences. The image reminds me of the bold, graphic work of artists like Emil Nolde and the German Expressionists, who also explored the emotional power of color and form. Kandinsky was clearly in conversation with his contemporaries. I think artists always are. Art doesn’t happen in a vacuum. And I think Kandinsky probably knew that too.