KANDINSKY - GROHMANN, Will(y).Biblio.com
KANDINSKY, WassilyBiblio.com
The Art of Spiritual Harmony.
1914185376London: Constable and Company Limited 1914. First edition in English of Kandinsky's seminal theoretical publication. In this volume the artist explores theosophy outlines his theories of the artist as a "prophet" p. 15 and argues for expression and spirituality in the place of naturalistic representation. Extracts from this translation were published in Wyndham Lewis's Blast magazine later in 1914 quickly establishing Kandinsky's reputation in Britain. The work was published in German in 1911 as Über das Geistige in der Kunst. This copy has the bookplate of George H. Green likely the cartoonist and renowned xylophone player 1893 - 1970 who played on behalf of Steamboat Willie in the Disney cartoon and was an early adopter of the vibraphone which became a popular jazz instrument in the 1930s. This is a lovely provenance given Kandinsky's claim that the power of art is to cause "vibrations of the soul" p. 104. The first edition was issued in grey boards as here and also in quarter cloth with marbled boards Small quarto. With 9 plates after paintings 4 by Kandinsky 3 diagrammatic plates in red and black woodcut chapter headpieces by Kandinsky. Original grey boards paper label to spine lettered in black top edge untrimmed. Binding rubbed spine lightly toned foot bumped short split to rear joint corners lightly bumped offsetting to endpapers and outer leaves: a very good copy. hardcover
Peter Harrington · Royaume-Uni750,00 £GB≈ 856,35 €
