Paul Klee

Paul Klee was born near Bern, Switzerland. He was brought up in a musical family. His father was a german music teacher and his mother had trained to be a singer. Naturally, due to his parents, from an early age he was interested in music. He played the violin very well. The theme of music crowded his mind.

In 1898, he began studying art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. He studied under Franz von Stuck. Between 1901 and 1902, he travelled in Italy and enjoyed many classic arts. Seeing masterpices many with his own eyes made him rediscover something.

In 1906, he moved to Munich. He developed the personal relationship with Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc. At that time, they were the most avant-garde artists.

Paul Klee studied paintings such as Cezanne, Gogh, Manet, Goya, Rodin. And, he learned Japanese block prints.

In the early part of 1910s, Synthetic Cubism appeared on the scene in Paris. Of course Paul Klee also gained something from it. But he seemed to be interested in paintings as Robert Delaunay, Fernand Léger.

In 1914 he visited Tunisia with August Macke and Louis Moilliet. He was impressed by the quality of the light there.

Between 1921 and 1931 Paul Klee taught at the German Bauhaus school of art and architecture.