The vase 1938

Paul Klee made this painting of a vase, at no date, on a jute canvas in dulled blues, yellows, greens, browns, blacks, and whites. Looking at this piece, I can imagine Klee building up the image, moving his brush around, trying out the positions of the abstract forms and motifs. What do they mean? Is it supposed to mean something? I can almost feel Klee’s presence in his decisions, his playfulness, and his humour. I see the vase shape is outlined in black with yellow circles inside, sitting between a cluster of other shapes. The surface of the canvas is very visible through thin washes of colour that have been applied in layers. Some of these marks resemble ancient pictograms, like a mysterious language to be deciphered. Klee had an incredible ability to create work that feels light and airy. Like a playful poem, open to infinite meanings. His paintings continue to inspire artists today, reminding us that art is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas across time. I'm getting ideas just looking at it.