Lot Essay
In May 1933 the National Socialists suspended Klee from his teaching position at the Dusseldorf Academy, and he and his wife returned to Berne, where he was to spend his last years. In 1935 the first signs of his illness appeared, and this combined with the ominous atmosphere of war, was communicated in the titles of his works. In this year Grohmann sees Klee clarifying and expanding his repertoire, developing a flat, mosaic-like style: "Klee's periods of meditation awakened memories of earlier works but did not lead him to resume such previous efforts directly... In Arrogant Arms and Growing Weapons..even the colouring recalls the enameled ornaments of the Migration Period. Of Growing Weapons Klee said they were like cactus plants, which means that he had botanical elements in mind." (W. Grohmann, op. cit.)
Sold with a photo-certificate from Josef Helfenstein and Stefan Frey of the Paul Klee Stiftung, Berne
Sold with a photo-certificate from Josef Helfenstein and Stefan Frey of the Paul Klee Stiftung, Berne