Dying Light (Auslöschendes Licht) for the illustrated book Das Kestnerbuch (The Kestner Book)

Dying Light (Auslöschendes Licht) for the illustrated book Das Kestnerbuch (The Kestner Book) is a significant lithograph created by Paul Klee in 1919. This print was conceived for Das Kestnerbuch, a prestigious portfolio commissioned by the Kestner Society in Hanover, featuring contributions from leading avant-garde German artists and writers active in the post-war era. The choice of the print medium allowed Klee to explore textural subtleties and sharp delineation characteristic of his rapidly developing style during this pivotal year.

The period of 1919 was marked by extreme political and cultural upheaval in Germany, yet it was also a time of intense artistic experimentation for Klee, just preceding his influential tenure teaching at the Bauhaus school. As a prominent German Modernist, Klee was instrumental in defining the visual direction of his culture, moving past early expressionistic impulses toward a structured, highly symbolic visual language. This specific piece, classified simply as a print, showcases the artist’s mastery of graphic techniques, relying solely on line and tone to convey its meaning, emphasizing the formal capabilities of the lithograph.

The composition of Dying Light utilizes the semi-abstract geometric structures and highly personalized sign systems that became hallmarks of Klee's work. Despite the potentially somber connotations of the title, Klee often infused his most abstract compositions with a subtle wit and poetic sensibility. The economy of line inherent in the lithographic process focuses attention on the relationships between positive and negative space. As an exemplary work from Klee's transitional phase in 1919, this important piece of modern art remains a crucial reference point for understanding the artist's shift toward theoretical abstraction. This key lithograph is currently held in the esteemed collection of the Museum of Modern Art.