Basic Art Series: Paul Klee

Paul Klee (1879-1940) is considered one of the most cerebral and prolific leaders of 20th century European art. With careful theories and thousands of paintings, drawings, and watercolors, he developed a unique language of symbols, literature, and light. Though typically small in scale, Klee's works are remarkable for their sophisticated thought and meticulous nuances of line, color, and tonality.

Klee's stylistic formation was shaped by his early affiliation with the German expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter, and by a transformative 1914 trip to Tunisia which greatly influenced his use of color. After the war, he taught at the esteemed Bauhaus school, where his lectures, like his emerging practice, emphasized the symbolic potential of shades, lines, and geometries. Klee was also inspired by Cubism, poetry, music, literature, language, and the simplistic power of children's art. Famed for his simple stick figures, he often combined the appearance of untutored naivety with rigorous composition and intellectual significance.

This book presents a selection of key Klee works that introduce his style and influence. From sun-drenched landscapes to enigmatic wordplay, it offers a glimpse into a world that is at once simplistic, symbolic, and dazzlingly colorful.