Im Reich der Luft 1917

Editor: Paul Klee’s "Im Reich der Luft," or "In the Realm of the Air," from 1917 is a whimsical mixed-media piece, incorporating watercolor and ink on paper. There's almost a dreamlike quality to its abstract, geometric shapes floating in a hazy, ethereal space. What’s your take on how its title relates to its context? Curator: I’m intrigued by the sociopolitical moment. It was created during the First World War. Klee, while initially sympathetic to some Expressionist ideals, served in the German army, painting camouflage on airplanes. Think about that: The *realm of the air* then was about lethal technological advancements as much as it was about dreams and artistic freedom. Does that affect how we see the hot air balloons? Editor: Absolutely, seeing them as juxtaposed against the horrors of war gives it a new sense of urgency and irony. But even removed from the war, do you see a message here about the act of looking itself? There are quite a few symbols of “seeing” within it. Curator: Precisely. Klee engaged in intense symbolist exploration of the inner world – think of him trying to use his art to express psychological states. “The Realm of Air” may symbolize inner worlds – but for whom, and for what audience? Do we see Klee's grappling with trauma, even guilt? His own place within a brutal system? And who gets access to that system? Consider too who views the work now, in the institution of the museum, versus its original purpose or audiences. Editor: I never thought about that context before! It makes me consider who can engage in the luxury of "art" versus who is simply struggling for survival in these circumstances. Curator: That’s precisely the type of critical engagement that art history seeks. We’re never just looking at pretty pictures. We’re exploring the messy intersection of aesthetics and lived reality, the forces that gave rise to its images. Editor: Thanks, this really broadened my understanding! I see so much more now than I did when I looked at those shapes and colours at first.