The Light and So Much Else 1931

Paul Klee made this painting, The Light and So Much Else, with oil and ink on paper, mounted on cardboard. It's a complex arrangement of overlaid triangles, squares and diamond shapes that, for me, always seems to offer something new each time I look at it. There's this real push and pull in the texture. The surface seems almost sand-blasted; but this is balanced by the soft and transparent quality of the colors. The paint is applied in layers, with each shape defined by thin, dark lines. The overall effect is a bit like looking through a stained-glass window, or perhaps a kaleidoscope. Check out the yellow orb right at the top, which has an insect-like antenna. For me, this piece speaks to the ongoing dialogue between artists across generations. Klee’s work reminds me of Hilma af Klint, who explored abstraction and spirituality in her paintings. The work of both artists embraces ambiguity, inviting us to contemplate the many ways of seeing and experiencing the world.