The first time I saw work by Paul Klee, I truly felt pity for him. I knew he was surrounded by talented artists at the Bauhaus, I speculated how overwhelmed he must have felt. While the others artists in residence were creating intricate wallpaper, modern furniture and writing books, Paul was making pictures with colored triangles and circles. It was not until much later that I grew to love him and his work.
Klee’s early work showed great control and talent. He was a master at bookbinding, etching, and stained glass. His etchings were detailed and very accurate. These were done roughly between 1895 and 1903. Soon after that his drawings became more playful. His line work left the rigid photo real style and moved into more of a caricature. “Drawing is Taking Line For a Walk” Klee said.
World War II started in 1914. Paul Klee fought in it I. He was distressed that his dear friends were killed in the war. He was conflictedwith the war itself. The Gestapo searched his home and discovered he was half Jewish. He was fired from his job in Germany. In reaction to this he painted a self portrait in 1933, called “Struck From The List”. The colors are ugly oranges and browns. The figures expression is sad. There is a large black “X” on the head. The viewer can feel the despair.
Klee was a teacher at the Bauhaus art school during World War II. He was friends with Kandinsky and Picasso. He joined group called the “Blue Four” who were abstractionist and cubist and expressionists. He learned about color theory from them, which Klee said he never quite understood. He painted his first abstract in 1914. By 1917 his work was selling well.
It was when I learned all these things about Klee that I understood his work. He was exploring color theory and abstraction, not because all he could do was draw a triangle. He was minimizing his studies down to this because he loved color and was celebrating everything to do with it and the theories surrounding it.
It is funny to remember think how an artist I had not respect for once, has now become one of my favorites.