Wüsten-Räuber 1938

Paul Klee made this tempera painting, "Wüsten-Räuber," at some point, and he used paste on paper. Now, doesn’t that just sound like the best kind of party? The whole thing is a kind of a warm, crusty brown, offset by these little black glyphs at the top. It’s so tactile! I can almost feel the grit of the desert baked into the surface. Just look at that big central form, built up with so many layers. You get the feeling Klee wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty, smearing and building, until this strange figure emerged. I wonder, was he thinking of some ancient spirit, some kind of desert guardian? Or maybe he was just playing around, letting the paint lead the way. I think of other painters like Guston who also conjured strange figures. There’s a sense of humor, a lightness, even when the subject matter feels heavy. It’s like they’re reminding us not to take ourselves too seriously. Painting can be serious business, but it’s also a chance to let loose and make some weirdness.