A Phantom Crumbles

1921–1931

The preliminary course on the “theory of form”

Klee developed a preliminary course in the “theory of form” that began with the “point as the beginning of all beginnings”, moving through space, and the “cosmic egg” from which line, spiral, square, circle and cube are born. Students listened to lectures illustrated with Klee’s own abstract watercolours and then painted their own, trying to express movement, balance, flight and tension.

1924–1925

Success with the Paris Surrealists

In 1924 Klee exhibited in Paris for the first time and became a hit with the French Surrealists, who were drawn to his partly morbid motifs. At the Paris Surrealist exhibition of 1925 Max Ernst was impressed by his work.

1925

Moving to Dessau with the Bauhaus

In 1925 the Bauhaus moved to Dessau, and Klee moved with the school.

1925

“Pedagogical Sketchbook” is published

Klee’s theoretical book “Pedagogical Sketchbook” (Pädagogisches Skizzenbuch) is published; five years earlier, in 1920, his essay “Schöpferische Konfession” had appeared.

1928–1929

A journey to Egypt

Egypt impressed Klee less than Tunisia, yet in the desert he felt an almost mystical bond with the land: he was drawn to the proportions of the ancient funerary monuments and to the esoteric numerology by which they were built. His later “Ad Parnassum” was influenced by the trip.

1929

The first major monograph on Klee

In 1929 the first major monograph on Klee’s work was published; it was written by Will Grohmann, a confidant of the artist.