"Southern (Tunisian) Gardens", 1919
Watercolor
9.5" x 7.5"
Collection Heinz Berggruen, Paris
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Paul Klee
(Swiss, 1879-1940)
German-Swiss artist Paul Klee brought his personal expression about in the form of fantasy and whimsy. His perception of the "modern" world was rendered in brevity with a simplistic, primitive style which he drew from children's and primitive art.
A member of the Blue Rider School, he believed in the unity of nature and emotion and derided illusionistic art. Using simple line and forms of men, animals, and fantastic creatures, his gentle commentary on human weakness and folly exploited the symbols, signs and archaic patterns of the collective unconscious.
Klee's works are replete with allusions to dreams, music, and poetry, set in a gently playful style sometimes reminiscent of the surrealists and cubist who so influenced the times.
Klee taught at the Bauhaus from 1922-31 then at the Düsseldorf academy from 1931-33 and irritated the Nazi's so much they labeled his work degenerate and made him resign.
Additional Links:
klee at the web museum paris
klee on art.com
klee at the guggenheim collection
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