Villa R 1919

Paul Klee’s ‘Villa R’ is a painting probably made with oil or tempera on board, and it looks like Klee was working in a playful mood. The colors are earthy, but not too serious, with that big, bold ‘R’ in the foreground demanding attention. Look closely, and you can see how Klee built up the surface. There are layers, textures, and this kind of gentle, crackling effect, almost like old plaster. The red road makes me think of a stage, like a set for a play. I love how the architecture is both solid and dreamlike. The little red dot on the tower feels so deliberate. It is a focal point that keeps your eye moving. You can see this architectural language elsewhere in Klee’s work, a sort of personal alphabet of shapes and forms that he rearranged and recombined endlessly. Like with Picasso, you get the sense that art is a conversation. No one really knows what they’re talking about, but it looks so good.