Exotics

1936–1939

From 25 works in 1936 to 1,254 in 1939

After falling ill Klee turned to simpler, larger designs with heavier lines, geometric forms and fewer, larger blocks of colour, and his output rose: about 25 works in 1936, 264 in 1937, 489 in 1938 and 1,254 in 1939, a career high. His health recovered somewhat and he was encouraged by a visit from Kandinsky and Picasso.

1937

Seventeen works in the “Degenerate Art” show

The Nazis included 17 of Klee’s pictures in the propaganda exhibition “Degenerate Art” in Munich and seized 102 of his works from German public collections. Material from Prinzhorn’s anthology on the art of the mentally ill was also presented at the exhibition, to defame Kirchner, Klee, Nolde and others by likening their work to that of the insane.

1939

“Twittering Machine” goes to MoMA

The painting “Twittering Machine”, removed from the National Gallery and vilified at the Munich “Degenerate Art” exhibition, was bought by the Buchholz Gallery in New York; in 1939 it passed to the Museum of Modern Art.

1940

The last large exhibition in his lifetime

In 1940 Zurich hosted the last large exhibition of Klee’s work in his lifetime.

29 June 1940

Death in Muralto: illness and citizenship

Klee died in Muralto, near Locarno, of scleroderma, without having received Swiss citizenship despite being born in Switzerland: the authorities thought his art too revolutionary, even degenerate, and granted his request only six days after his death.

29 de junho de 1940

Died