Treppe zum Schloss (Murnau) by Wassily Kandinsky, 1909

Wassily Kandinsky’s Treppe zum Schloss (Murnau) (1909) captures the artist at a turning point, transforming a humble staircase leading toward a hilltop castle into a radiant structure of color and form. Painted during his Murnau years, this Expressionist landscape pivots away from academic realism toward a subjective, spiritualized vision of the world. The steps, roofs, trees, and sky dissolve into vivid planes of blue, green, red, and gold, signaling the bold visual language that would soon usher in modern abstraction.

This fine art print is meticulously reproduced and available on your choice of acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas for rich color and long-lasting beauty. Offered in a range of standard and custom sizes, it can arrive unframed or professionally framed with conservation materials, ready to hang. The Unique Maps Co. also offers personalization and customization, including tailored sizing, border and mat options, and curated frame finishes to suit your space or gifting needs.

Kandinsky (1866–1944) was a pioneering figure of 20th-century art, celebrated for advancing non-objective painting and for his influential ideas on the spiritual power of color. In 1909, based in southern Germany, he was on the cusp of reshaping European art, co-founding the Neue Künstlervereinigung München that same year and, not long after, the Blue Rider circle. His Murnau landscapes laid the groundwork for this shift: local motifs distilled into elemental shapes, each hue carrying emotional weight.

Treppe zum Schloss (Murnau) is emblematic of that breakthrough. The familiar subject—a stairway ascending toward clustered architecture—remains legible, yet the real drama lies in how the scene is reimagined through expressive simplification. The painting responds to its moment in history, when artists across Europe were rejecting literal depiction in favor of inner experience. Here, Kandinsky fuses place and feeling, turning a path up a hill into a journey of mood and momentum.

The palette—anchored by deep blues, saturated greens, and bold reds—deploys luminous complements to heighten intensity. Energetic brushwork and passages of impasto animate the surface, while simplified shapes and angled contours introduce a musical rhythm to the composition. The result is a striking balance of structure and spontaneity: a piece that brings color harmony, modern energy, and architectural resonance to interiors ranging from contemporary and Scandinavian to eclectic and mid-century.

This museum-quality print makes a thoughtful gift for admirers of modern art and design, for lovers of German landscapes, or for anyone drawn to expressive color—perfect for housewarmings, birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s or Father’s Day, or as a meaningful keepsake for someone who has visited Bavaria and the Murnau region.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.