Paul Klee: Art as Representation of the Unreal
Born on December 18, 1879, in Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland, Paul Klee later relocated to Bern. He famously stated, "art does not reproduce the visible, but makes visible." Klee's artistic expression was deeply influenced by his musician parents, instilling in him a passion for music that permeated his work. Rather than addressing social issues, he explored themes of fantasy and dreams through a childlike perspective. Over his lifetime, Klee produced approximately 9,000 pieces across various mediums, often depicting architecture, imaginary cities, and musical notations. His artistic style incorporated elements of primitivism, expressionism, and cubism, echoing surrealism, as seen in works like "Pasto variato" from 1928. In 1911, he met Kandinsky and joined the Blaue Reiter group, maintaining their friendship until Klee's passing on June 29, 1940. His contributions are celebrated in major museums around the globe.
Key facts
- Paul Klee was born on December 18, 1879 in Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland.
- Klee believed art makes visible rather than reproduces the visible.
- He created approximately 9,000 works, mostly small-format.
- Klee avoided social and political themes, focusing on fantasy and childlike imagination.
- He was influenced by Van Gogh, Cézanne, Delaunay, Klimt, Blake, Goya, Impressionists, Leonardo, and Rembrandt.
- In 1911, Klee met Kandinsky and joined the Blaue Reiter group.
- Klee taught at the Bauhaus in Weimar.
- He died on June 29, 1940 from a serious illness.
Entities
Artists
- Paul Klee
- Wassily Kandinsky
- Vincent van Gogh
- Paul Cézanne
- Robert Delaunay
- Gustav Klimt
- William Blake
- Francisco Goya
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Rembrandt van Rijn
- Henri Matisse
- Wols
- Jean Dubuffet
- Henri Michaux
- Mark Tobey
- Cy Twombly
Institutions
- Blaue Reiter
- Bauhaus
- Artspecialday
Locations
- Münchenbuchsee
- Switzerland
- Bern
- Weimar
- Germany
- Paris
- France