Über das Geistige in der Kunst. Insbesondere in der Malerei. (Concerning the Spiritual in Art. Especially in Painting).: Mit acht Tafeln und zehn Originalholzschnitten.
by KANDINSKY, Wassily
- Used
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Munich: R. Piper & Co.,, 1912. Towards abstraction First edition, first printing, of Kandinsky's seminal theoretical publication, "one of the most influential art texts of the first decades of the twentieth century" (Tate), which sparked widespread interest in abstract art. Über das Geistige in der Kunst "elucidated Kandinsky's artistic theories and his valuing of expression and spirituality over naturalistic representation. It also introduced his new pictorial categories derived from the field of music - impressions, improvisations, and compositions - which further de-emphasized the importance of recognizable subject matter. On the cover and in ten woodcuts, Kandinsky illustrated his ideas by reducing complex scenes of spiritual battle and redemption to simplified designs of lines and shapes" (MoMA). The work outlines his theories of the artist as a prophet, his arguments for expression and spirituality in the place of naturalistic representation, and the power of art to cause "vibrations of the soul". The work sold well, and went through three editions by December 1912. It was translated into English in 1914. Square octavo. Original wrappers, spine and front cover lettered in blue, woodcut illustrations by Kandinsky to covers in blue. With 8 plates of paintings (from Ravenna Mosaics to Cézanne), including 3 by Kandinsky, 3 diagrammatic plates of colour relationships, woodcut chapter headpieces by Kandinsky. Neat ownership inscription, dated 1961, to half-title. Wrappers lightly marked and creased, else well preserved, contents fresh. A near-fine copy.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Peter Harrington (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 170759
- Title
- Über das Geistige in der Kunst. Insbesondere in der Malerei. (Concerning the Spiritual in Art. Especially in Painting).
- Author
- KANDINSKY, Wassily
- Book Condition
- Used
- Place of Publication
- Munich: R. Piper & Co.,
- Date Published
- 1912
Terms of Sale
Peter Harrington
All major credit cards are accepted. Both UK pounds and US dollars (exchange rate to be agreed) accepted. Books may be returned within 14 days of receipt for any reason, please notify first of returned goods.
About the Seller
Peter Harrington
Biblio member since 2006
London
About Peter Harrington
Since its establishment, Peter Harrington has specialised in sourcing, selling and buying the finest quality original first editions, signed, rare and antiquarian books, fine bindings and library sets. Peter Harrington first began selling rare books from the Chelsea Antiques Market on London's King's Road. For the past twenty years the business has been run by Pom Harrington, Peter's son.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...