The 1910s was an important decade for Wassily Kandinsky, as his work moved towards pure abstraction. This drawing, with its rhythmic, musical quality, is typical of that period. It is remarkable for the balance between freedom and control in its execution. Although it appears swiftly drawn, the three separate applications of ink — with each layer needing time to dry — reveal the care with which it was made. Once part of a sketchbook with perforated edges, the sheet was dated and initialled by the artist, suggesting he considered it a finished work.

by descent to the artist's wife, Nina Kandinsky, Neuilly-sur-Seine (c. 1896-1980); possibly acquired directly from her by Galerie Adrien Maeght, Paris [sticker on back of frame, still there in 1992 according to exh. cat.]; Private collection, Paris; anonymous sale, Sotheby's, London, 28 June 1995, lot 176 (repr.); purchased there for a Private collection, Lisbon; Christie's, London, 10 December 1997, lot 361 (repr.); purchased there by the seller at Sotheby's, London, 25 June 2002, lot 164 (repr.) [catalogue page in file]; purchased there by Howard Karshan (1933-2017); Presented by Linda Karshan in memory of her husband, Howard Karshan, 2020

Modern Drawings: The Karshan Gift, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 19/11/2021-09/01/2022

Kandinsky, The Path to Abstraction, Tate Modern, London, 22/06/2006-01/10/2006

Kandinsky, Kleine Freuden, Aquarelle und Zeichnungen, Kunstsammlung Nordhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, 1992; Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart, 1992

Modern Drawings: The Karshan Gift, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 20 Nov. 2021 - 9 Jan. 2022
cat. no. 3
ill. on p. 49

Barnett, V.E., Kandinsky Drawings. Catalogue raisonné. Individual drawings, Munich 2006
vol. 1, no. 402 on p. 203
ill.

Kandinsky, Kleine Freuden, Aquarelle und Zeichnungen, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart, 1992
cat. no. 55
ill. ...More

Label: Frame, Verso: upper left, black ink printed on a yellow label, partly abraded: “Ausstellung Transporterledigung / Leihgeber Hassenkamp Internationale Transport[…] / GmbH & Co. KG / D 50226 Köln-Frechen / Kunstler Wassily Kandinsky / TItel Ohne Titel; upper centre, black ink printed on silver label, that of framemaker: “SEIT 1854 / CONZEN / RAHMEN / DÜSSELDORF” and written below it in graphite: “620589 98”; upper right corner, black ink printed on white label: “GLOBAL / ART / FUND / GLOBAL ART FUND S/CAV / C/O DG BANK Luxembourg S.A. / Boîte postale 661 / L-2016 Luxembourg / D. 4 / KANDINSKY / ohne Titel / 15,9 x 24”; upper centre, black ink printed on white label: “Kandinsky: The Path to Abstraction” / Tate Modern 22 June – 1 October 2006 / [added in black ink] LONDON ONLY / Cat. No. / KANDINSKY, Wassily 1866-1944 / Untitled 1916 / Ink on paper / 155 x 235 mm / Private Collection / X14793”; left centre, black ink printed on white label, with a barcode: “TMP 2013-013.40 / Kandinsky, Wassily, 1866- / 1944 / Untitled [drawing]”; right centre, black ink printed on white label, with small image of the drawing: “TMP 2013-013.40 / Wassily Kandinsky / Untitled, 1916, 1916 / brush and ink, 6 ½ x 9 / ¼ in.”; lower left, black ink printed on white label, filled in with pen and black ink: “SOTHEBY’S FRANCE S.A. / Tél.: (1) 42.66.40.60 Case / 34 / AUTEUR Kandinsky / TITRE / DIMENSIONS 15 X 23 / No 53774”; lower centre, black ink printed on brown label with number filled in with pen and black ink: “GALERIE ADRIEN MAEGHT / BAC 368”; Courtauld label applied to lower right corner.

Inscription: Recto: lower left, black ink, within a half-circle: "K"; lower left, black ink, dated: "16".