Etching for Stephen Spender "Fraternity"

Kandinskystephenspencerfraternity

Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), Etching for Stephen Spender “Fraternity”, etching and drypoint, 1939, signed in pencil lower right. Reference: Roethel 202, only state. From the edition of 113 (of which not all were signed). In very good condition, on Montvale ivory laid paper, with a partial “woman bathing” watermark, the full sheet, 5 1/16 x 3 1/4, the sheet 9 x 6 3/8 inches. Published by Atelier 17, Paris.

A fine impression of this rarely encountered print.

After the Bauhaus closed, in 1933, Kandinsky moved to Paris where he made only a small number (6) of prints. Etching for Stephen Spender is from this period, made at the famed Atelier 17. It recalls his earlier tiny drypoints in its small scale and its  extraordinarily exquisite detailing of lines and patterns.

Stephen Spender (1909-1995) was the famed writer and poet; this etching was published by Atelier 17 in a portfolio which included engravings by eight artists including Joan Miro, John Buckland-Wright, Joseph Hecht, and others.