The Man Under the Pear Tree 1921

Paul Klee made this watercolor, The Man Under the Pear Tree, with dreamy colors and shapes that seem to float on the paper. Look at how Klee builds up these translucent layers, one over another; it's like he’s creating a world where things aren't quite solid, but still have a presence. I love how Klee uses watercolor to create this sense of lightness, like the man and the tree are both made of light and air. See how the colors blend and bleed into each other, especially in the pear tree above the seated figure? These soft, watery edges suggest a dreamlike state. The checkerboard motif on the man’s body and the ground beneath him is striking. Each little square is a tiny universe of color, and the way they’re arranged creates a sense of movement. Klee was a master of creating these ambiguous spaces, and reminds me of the work of another great colourist, Henri Matisse. Both artists embrace art as a playground for ideas, where multiple interpretations are not only possible, but welcome.