Art Appreciation – January/February 2023
At our January meeting, Keith Feltham gave a presentation on the artist Paul Klee who was born in Switzerland in 1879. We learned that he was born into a musical family, and showed musical talent from an early age but against the wishes of his parents decided to pursue a career in art. Surprisingly, although he is noted for his sensitive use of colour his early works were in black and white in the form of drawings, etchings and even glass paintings. He settled in Germany and exhibited work in Munich and Berlin. He is often associated with the expressionist group, Der Blaue Reiter, with whom he exhibited in 1912. Cezanne, Picasso, Braque, Delaunay, Kandinsky and Marc were influences on Klee’s work.
It was not until he visited Tunis in 1914 that he was inspired to work in colour. Keith showed us a range of Klee’s paintings which illustrated a number of different styles. His travels in Tunis resulted in abstract works which suggest the architecture of the area, with geometric shapes in glowing colours. In some works, the shapes are based on letters of the alphabet. In others, he introduces quirky, humorous caricatures on a background patchwork of subtle colours. Many of his works were on a very small scale but his output was prolific, and he was hugely successful both in Europe and the United States, and taught at the Bauhaus between the wars.
Having been denounced by the Nazis in 1933, Klee was forced to move back to Switzerland where he died in 1940.
Our thanks go to Keith for sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge of Klee’s work with the group.
Our next meeting will be in the Manor House at 2pm on Tuesday 14th February when Michael Heyden will give a presentation on the British artist, Walter Sickert.
Lynne