Southern gardens 1921

Paul Klee conjured “Southern Gardens” with paint, maybe oil or tempera, and who knows what else. Look at those juicy marks! Klee’s process feels like play, right? He’s not trying to trick you into thinking this is a real garden. I love how the colors are both earthy and kind of otherworldly – that ochre, those greens, plus pops of orange and red. There’s a real tension between the flat surface and the illusion of depth. See that big red arrow pointing down? Is it a signpost? A critique of perspective? Klee's whole career was this tightrope walk between representation and abstraction, just like his contemporary Joan Miró. He's always winking at us, reminding us that art is a conversation, not a lecture. "Southern Gardens" isn't just about plants and soil; it's about seeing, feeling, and thinking about the world in new ways.