Über das Geistige in der Kunst. Insbesondere in der Malerei. (Concerning the Spiritual in Art. Especially in Painting).: Mit acht Tafeln und zehn Originalholzschnitten.

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.