Forest Witches 1938

Paul Klee made ‘Forest Witches’ with watercolor and ink, and it’s like he’s conjuring a whole world, line by line, colour by colour. It’s all about the marks. Look at the way the black ink teases out these almost-figures from the earthy browns and reds. I can imagine Klee hovering over the page, letting his hand wander, trying out an eye here, a mouth there, building up the image bit by bit. The paint is thin, almost translucent in places, which makes the whole thing feel light and airy, like a dream. See how the figures seem to emerge from the background? It's like Klee is showing us how thoughts take shape, half-formed and fleeting. It's a way of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world. Painters are always talking to each other across time and space, and Klee’s work makes me think about other artists who are also interested in the subconscious like Miro and Ernst. Ultimately, painting is a conversation, and Klee's inviting us to join in and add our own voices.