Abstract Colour Harmony in Squares with Vermillion Accents 1924

Paul Klee built up this intimate painting from small squares of colour; the palette of dark blues, greens and browns only broken by accents of vermillion. Imagine Klee, brush in hand, patiently layering small blocks of colour, each square a tiny universe of tone. What was he thinking as he made this work? Did he lose himself in the repetition, each gesture a meditation? I sympathize with the grind. See how the red squares pop against the dark ground? They are like little jolts of energy. Klee’s process reminds me that painting is not just about the end result. It’s about the journey, the back and forth, the push and pull between intention and accident. He’s like all of us painters trying to make something from nothing. This process helps me see the painting, and the world, anew.