Rhythmic Rythmical Paul Klee Buy Art Prints Now
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by
Tom Gurney BSc (Hons) is an art history expert with over 20 years experience
Published on June 19, 2020 / Updated on October 14, 2023
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Paul Klee was fond of music and often looked at ways to include it in his artwork. In Rhythmic Rythmical, the artist merges two of his favourite things in a direct way.

Many artists have painted music throughout the years. This is not surprising since music calls directly to the soul of the artist. Whether it is reggae, pop or county, artists have always been inspired by the sounds of music all around them.

Klee has directly included musical notes in his work on several occasions. This way, there can be no mistaking the fact that he intends to make each viewer aware of the fact that music is present. It is there in the painting, along with whatever theme is being explored. This painting is concentrated on rhythm and its power to remind viewers of the beauty of patterns.

Grey, black and white are the main colours used in this 1930 painting. Rhythm is portrayed as a checkerboard pattern of black, white and grey. The colours are repeated in a way that is musical in their timing. One may sense the beat of a drum as each shade appears at intervals, in the way that the artists has chosen.

Music plays an important role in the development of this piece. The style here is different from the scene in Klee's Death Of The Idea or even his piece Separation At Evening. However, Death Of The Idea has no rhythm. It has no life. In Separation At Evening, viewers can see Klee's sense of rhythm and pattern at work. There is life in the work even though there is a bit of sadness to the piece. In Death Of The Idea, the pattern and sense of organised movement is not there.

It is all gone, covered by or completely extinguished by grief.

Rhythmic Rythmical explores the way in which people who have one type of sensory experience may express it in another way. This means that those who are painting or writing may find themselves humming as they do so. The pattern involved in each act gives rise to a new sensory experience. Some artists even associate certain instruments with specific colours. All of this is explored in Klee's painting.