Comedy of Birds (Vogelkomödie) for the portfolio 25 Original Lithographs by the Munich New Secession (25 Original-Lithographien der Münchener Neuen Secession)

Comedy of Birds (Vogelkomödie) for the portfolio 25 Original Lithographs by the Munich New Secession (25 Original-Lithographien der Münchener Neuen Secession) is a seminal work by Paul Klee, executed in 1918. This key example of the artist's graphic output is a lithograph, demonstrating Klee's early mastery of printmaking techniques. The piece was created specifically for the highly influential portfolio featuring artists associated with the Münchener Neue Secession, a significant German group seeking to establish new paths for Modernism separate from academic tradition.

Executed during a pivotal year, 1918, as Europe grappled with the end of World War I, this print captures the nascent elements of Klee’s signature style: abstract, often whimsical forms rendered with delicate linear precision. The subject matter, indicated by the title, involves a playful, almost theatrical arrangement of avian figures. Klee’s bird studies often served as complex metaphors for human society and psychological states, and in this German work, the composition suggests movement and satirical observation through simplified geometric and organic shapes typical of emerging abstraction.

Klee’s use of the lithograph emphasizes sharp outlines and flat areas, aligning with the graphic sensibility shared by many German Expressionists, even as Klee moved toward his own unique symbolic language. The inclusion of the work in the portfolio 25 Original-Lithographien der Münchener Neuen Secession underscores the importance of reproducible media in disseminating Modernist ideas across Europe during this transformative period. This valuable print is currently held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. As an important example of 1918 Modernism, the image is frequently studied, and high-quality prints of the work are often available through public domain art initiatives.