Before the Blitz

Paul Klee was an artist heavily influenced by movements of his time such as Cubism, Expressionism and Realism.

Due the fact that he was also an experienced draftsman, it is no surprise that angular elements tend to define many of his pieces.

This prolific artist also made use of colour in all of his works and he is seen by many as an authority in reference to colour theory.

Many of his works have influenced subsequent artists over the years and while Klee was not as known as other personalities such as Pablo Picasso, the fact of the matter is that his talent is widely recognised. One striking example of this visual prowess can be witnessed in Before the Blitz (1923).

The Use of Colour as a Visual Vehicle

Upon first glance, the attention of the viewer is immediately drawn towards the use of opposing geometric figures which focus upon the centre of the painting.

This sense of movement is further reinforced through the employment of gradually lightening tones of green as they approach an apex. It is interesting here to note that Klee employs shades of purple, green and brown that are not traditionally complimentary towards one another.

However, this apparent incongruence is somehow balanced as the viewer approaches the heart (centre) of the painting.

Thus, we can see that Klee successfully utilises colour in order to restore a central harmony. The fact that these tones are rather organic in their nature suggests an innocent and childlike perspective that can be seen in many of his other works.

A Musical Influence

Paul Klee was also heavily impacted by music due to the fact that he had hoped to become a musician during his formative years.

While this vision never became a reality, many of the tones seen within Before the Blitz (and his other works) seem to silently reflect an ability to employ graduating tones to represent musical "notes" in a highly visual sense.

This is particularly the case when referring to paintings that were created during the Bauhaus period. Embracing balanced geometric shapes alongside a tonal chromatic "symphony", Before the Blitz illustrates his innate ability to convey a sense of harmony and even fragility to the viewer.