PAUL KLEE AND TRANSPARENCY

Paul Klee seems to be thinking transparently in this watercolor.   He seems to be employing what to this point we would call a Byzantine space time understanding.  It is not an isometric drawing where all of the lines are parallel.  And it is not quite a linear perspective where everything is rationalized to one vanishing point.  And we are able to see nearly every side of every form that he has drawn.  He is flattening his image by not filling in each plane of his rectangles uniformly.

Nevertheless, we are getting much more information about the geometric construct of his fantasy world because we can see thru it.  A transparent drawing like this enables our imaginations to roam farther than if we could not see thru the forms.  And really this is nothing more than simple rectangular forms, just like you (hopefully) drew per the previous How To post.  If not, maybe Mr. Klee’s drawing will get you going?

A famous quote of his applies directly to our study.  “Art does not reproduce the visible;  rather, it makes visible.”  I tend to think that he would be in agreement with our efforts.

Above image used with permission.
Paul Klee
italienische Stadt, 1928, 99
Feder und Aquarell auf Papier auf Karton
33 x 23,4 cm
Privatbesitz Schweiz, Depositum im Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern