A 1922 lithograph by Wassily Kandinsky, featuring a dynamic arrangement of geometric shapes and primary colours from his Small Worlds portfolio.

Small Worlds V is a lithograph from the portfolio Kleine Welten (Small Worlds), produced by Wassily Kandinsky in 1922. During this period, Kandinsky was a teacher at the Bauhaus in Weimar, where his theoretical investigations into form and colour reached a high level of clarity. The portfolio consists of twelve prints, each exploring different techniques and visual languages, ranging from woodcuts to drypoints and lithographs.

In this specific composition, Kandinsky employs a variety of geometric and organic shapes that float across a cream-coloured ground. Bold, black ink lines intersect with solid blocks of primary colours: red, yellow, and blue. The composition is balanced by the inclusion of textured grids and circular motifs, which create a sense of rhythmic movement. The artist uses these elements to construct a visual syntax where individual shapes function as autonomous units, yet contribute to a unified whole. The print demonstrates his interest in the relationship between the rational, geometric order and the intuitive, spontaneous gesture.

Kandinsky often compared his approach to painting with musical composition, viewing colours and shapes as notes on a staff. In Small Worlds V, the interplay of these elements suggests a complex, non-representational narrative. The work avoids traditional perspective, opting instead for a flat, graphic arrangement that emphasises the physical properties of the print medium. The inclusion of scattered black marks provides a sense of atmospheric depth, contrasting with the sharp edges of the squares and rectangles. This print remains a clear example of the artist's ability to synthesise disparate visual information into a coherent, balanced structure, reflecting his broader pedagogical goals at the Bauhaus.