Angel Applicant 1939

Paul Klee rendered this angel in strokes of gray, black, and white, punctuated by little dots of pink. Imagine Klee, brush in hand, coaxing this figure into being, stroke by stroke. I can’t help but wonder what Klee was thinking as he made this piece. Was he amused by the idea of an angel applying for a job? Did he think of this painting as a kind of visual joke? Or maybe he sympathized with this angel, stuck in some kind of bureaucratic purgatory? The paint looks quite thin and translucent, almost like watercolor, allowing the surface to breathe. Look at the mouth and nose, rendered with just a few simple lines and dots. Klee really knew how to do a lot with very little! Like other painters, Klee took inspiration from the work of others, and in turn his work has inspired countless artists over the years. Painting is an ongoing conversation across time. It thrives on ambiguity and uncertainty, inviting multiple interpretations and personal connections.