Rote Erde 1926

Paul Klee made 'Rote Erde' using some kind of pastel or crayon, layering it on so that it almost looks like it's breathing. The way the colors overlap, kind of hazy and soft, makes it feel like a memory more than a landscape. The surface has these little scribbles all over, like tiny hairs standing up. It's not smooth or blended; you can really see the marks, the energy of his hand. Look at that patch of red in the lower left, how it bleeds into the blue next to it. It's controlled, but also kind of wild. It feels like he’s building the image up, bit by bit, finding it as he goes. Klee reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin in this piece, especially in the delicate and contemplative color. Ultimately, art is about seeing what happens when you let go, and Klee's 'Rote Erde' is all about that process.