Astrological Fantasy 1924

Paul Klee made this strange little painting called 'Astrological Fantasy' and the first thing that grabs me are the marks - the scribbly, cross-hatched lines that build up the form of the figure, the hat, everything really. You know, it's funny, because it's so controlled, but there is something playful about how he's built the image, kind of like improvising. Take a look at that face, how the colour is built up from so many individual lines, and there's a beautiful material quality to the painting's surface. It's not about the illusion of space, but about the tactile experience of the paint itself. The dark background makes those colours pop. Klee was friends with Kandinsky, and shared his interest in colour and spirituality. He was also a teacher at the Bauhaus. This painting shows his interest in the subconscious, dream-like imagery, and is a part of the conversation about where art can take us.