Paul Klee

Arktische Tau

1920
1
Artist

Paul Klee

Date

1920

Medium

Oil on board

Dimensions

52.0×51.0cm

Accession Number

KP-001

Since Klee had never visited the Arctic, what is depicted here is an imagined Arctic. The appearance of dew in such an extremely cold region is a very unusual phenomenon. In ‘Arctic Dew,’ one can sense the poetic beauty that accompanies the transient and ever-changing nature of Klee’s work. The sunlight in the top right of the canvas evokes the image of a single drop of dew, formed by the melting of Arctic ice. Alongside this theme, the depiction of nature through lines, light and shadow, and color is captivating in Klee’s work. The lines continue to move gently across the canvas, while the colors of red, yellow, and blue shift gradually. Through the transitions in their tone, lightness, and darkness, we witness a landscape in constant flux. The Arctic in Klee’s mind represents both a view that could once be seen and another that is yet to come. The mobility inherent in creation and regeneration within nature is intertwined with the mysterious moment captured in ‘Arctic Dew.

Paul Klee

Artist

Paul Klee

Date

1920

Medium

Oil on board

Dimensions

52.0×51.0cm

Accession Number

KP-001