Grundfeste 1922

Paul Klee made this whimsical city scape called Grundfeste with watercolour and ink. Looking at his marks, I see how he’s using simple lines to create geometric shapes which sort of hover against the soft ground. The way Klee layers the colours here is really something – these thin washes of pink and green overlap, creating a texture that feels both delicate and kind of gritty. See how the ink lines aren't perfect? They wobble and break, giving the whole piece a human touch. I’m drawn to that tiny circle at the top, maybe it’s a sun or a moon, but it anchors the whole composition, like a little thought bubble. Klee's got a way of making the ordinary feel magical, like you’re glimpsing a world that's just out of reach. He reminds me of Joan Miró, but maybe with a bit more architecture thrown in. Both artists understood that art isn't about answers, but about the questions we ask.