The Art of Spiritual Harmony by KANDINSKY, Wassily (1866-1944) - 1914

London: Constable, 1914. First Edition thus. Half-Leather. Near Fine+. First English-language Edition of this manifesto for abstract art, translated, and with an introduction, by Michael Sadler. Wide 8vo: xxvii,112pp, with 9 sepia plates and 3 full-page figures printed in black and red. Publisher's blue leather spine over marbled boards, maroon leather lettering piece gilt, edges rough-cut. Near Fine or better, tight and square; boards rubbed and lightly stained, preliminaries spotted, else clean and crisp, pages and plates nearly pristine. An exemplary example of this scarce title. A key document in the history of modern art, pioneering the movement to free painting from material reality, by one of the first artists to create a completely abstract painting, the nonobjective Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky. First published, in Munich, in 1912 as Uber das geistige in der kunst. Divided into two parts, About General Aesthetic (including an examination of geometrical forms) encourages artists to express their inner lives in abstract, nonmaterial terms (Kandinsky was deeply influenced by Wagner's Lohengrin, which, he felt, pushed the limits of music and melody beyond standard lyricism) and About Painting, discussion of the psychology of color and the language of form and color). Sadler is best remembered by bibliophiles for his remarkable collections and bibliographies. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).