Paul Klee Exhibition at Jewish Museum Centers on 1930s Political Works and Angelus Novus

The Jewish Museum in New York is presenting 'Paul Klee: Other Possible Worlds,' an exhibition focusing on the artist's final decade during the 1930s. The show examines Klee's political engagement and artistic responses to rising fascism in Germany. A central piece is 'Angelus Novus' (1920), a watercolor owned by cultural critic Walter Benjamin, who interpreted it as the 'Angel of History' in his 1940 philosophical writings. The original artwork, normally housed at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, is currently represented by a reproduction due to transportation delays. The exhibition includes works from Klee's later years that reference his dismissal from teaching by the Nazis and broader critiques of authoritarianism, such as 'Struck from the List' (1933) and 'Suffering Fruit' (1934). Also featured are drawings depicting violence against children, including 'Child Murder' (1933) and 'Child-Eater' (1939), which reflect Klee's perspective on the dangers of fascist regimes. The display includes earlier pieces to contrast with his later style, though some critics note the curatorial emphasis on Benjamin's interpretation may overshadow Klee's own artistic intentions. The exhibition, curated by Mason Klein, runs through July 26 at the museum's Upper East Side location in Manhattan.