Paul Klee

The work of Paul Klee Ý1879-1940) was deeply influenced by his passion for the theater. Throughout his life the artist fervently attended theatrical performances, from the opera to puppet shows. Characters from plays or operas - Hamlet, Falstaff, and Don Giovanni, for example - populate his cryptic visual world. Various types of characters and theatrical elements, such as clowns and masks, were firmly established themes in his visual repertoire. Primarily, though, Klee created connections between the theater and life, taking up the topos of the world as a stage: people became actors or marionettes; theatrical events touched upon scenes from everyday life.This publication sheds light on all of these aspects of Klee's fascination for the theater. A chronology gives a panoramic outline of his many experiences with the theater. Selected works by contemporary artists make it clear that Klee was not the only one fascinated with the sharp-eyed perception of theatrical situationsthe topic is one that continues to engage artists today.