Small Worlds IV - Wassily Kandinsky

A 1922 lithograph by Wassily Kandinsky, featuring a dynamic arrangement of geometric shapes and lines from his Kleine Welten portfolio.

Small Worlds IV is a lithograph from the portfolio Kleine Welten, produced by Wassily Kandinsky in 1922. During this period, Kandinsky was a teacher at the Bauhaus in Weimar, where his approach to abstraction became increasingly geometric and structured. This work demonstrates his interest in the relationship between individual forms and the surrounding space.

The composition features a collection of disparate elements: sharp black lines, solid colour blocks, and circular motifs. Kandinsky arranges these shapes to create a sense of movement across the white ground. A large yellow circle acts as a central anchor, while blue, green, and pink forms radiate outwards. The black lines cut through the space, providing a linear tension that balances the softer, rounded shapes.

Kandinsky viewed these prints as independent entities, each representing a distinct universe. He used the lithographic process to explore how colour and line could function without relying on representational subject matter. The print displays a clear, crisp application of ink, characteristic of the technical precision he encouraged at the Bauhaus. By stripping away external references, the artist focuses the viewer on the internal logic of the composition. The interplay of primary colours against black and white creates a visual rhythm that guides the eye across the surface. This work remains a clear example of his transition from the more fluid, organic abstraction of his earlier years to the disciplined, analytical style of his middle period.