locksmith 1940

Paul Klee, working in Germany in the early part of the 20th century, made this painting called ‘Locksmith’. It is a study in color and form, where bold shapes in red and black evoke a sense of constructed space. Klee was part of the Bauhaus movement. This was a school of art and design that sought to reimagine the relationship between art, industry and society. The Bauhaus was invested in the idea of an artist as craftsman or engineer, seeking to find a universal visual language. The title ‘Locksmith’ suggests a process of opening or closing, securing or liberating. What do these red shapes contain or hide? Perhaps, Klee is speaking to the human condition, to the way we use structures to control access, emotionally and physically. It’s up to us to find the key.