Hieroglyph with Fish and Bird

1915

Meeting Rainer Maria Rilke

Klee met the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who was allowed to keep about forty of Klee’s works in his room for several months.

March 1916

First exhibition of abstract watercolours at Walden’s

Herwarth Walden’s gallery held the first exhibition of Klee’s abstract watercolours, a success with the public. He gave the works new titles, marking his break with war themes, and Walden asked him for more.

5 March 1916

Called up, and the news of Franz Marc’s death

On 5 March 1916 Klee, who had been expecting mobilisation since 1914, was called up; the same day he learned that Franz Marc had been killed at the Battle of Verdun. From March to August he went through military training at Landshut.

February 1917

Second show at Walden’s: the first commercial success

Klee showed the watercolours of the past year; many works were sold, and critics called him the most important German artist since Marc’s death. The success was made possible by a changed market: collectors had appeared who were ready to buy modern art.

1918–1919

After the revolution: demobilisation and an artists’ committee

After the November Revolution Klee petitioned the new authorities to release him from service and was demobilised. In spring 1919 he was invited onto the Executive Committee of Revolutionary Artists, but the republic fell before he could begin.

1919

A rejected candidacy for the Stuttgart Academy

Oskar Schlemmer and Willi Baumeister put Klee forward, unsuccessfully, for a teaching post at the Stuttgart Academy of Fine Arts. Some of those who opposed the appointment hinted at the artist’s Jewish origin.