Forest (Wald) (plate, page 142) from the periodical Münchner Blätter für Dichtung und Graphik, vol. 1, no. 9 (September 1919) is a significant lithograph created by Paul Klee. This graphic work was published as part of the ninth issue of the Münchner Blätter, a respected German literary and visual arts journal from the immediate post-war era, which frequently featured original prints by contemporary artists. The inclusion of Klee’s piece, one of a suite of five original lithographs presented in this volume, highlights the pivotal role of periodicals in circulating avant-garde art during the early 20th century.
Executed in 1919, this work captures the artist's transition toward abstract formalism, moving beyond his earlier Expressionist tendencies. The period following World War I was one of intense artistic searching in Germany, characterized by a shift toward more analytic and constructive modes of representation. Klee experimented extensively with reductive forms and geometric organization to capture the essence of the natural world. In Forest (Wald), the subject is rendered through stark, economical lines that suggest the verticality and compressed structure of a wooded area, reflecting the burgeoning Cubist influence on Klee's developing aesthetic language.
The technique of the lithograph allowed Klee to explore composition with immediacy, translating his abstract concepts into reproducible printed matter. This medium was crucial in making new art accessible to a wider readership. The artwork stands as a key example of the influential German graphic output of 1919, showcasing the precision and formal experimentation that would define Klee’s tenure at the Bauhaus shortly thereafter. The lithograph is carefully preserved in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, acknowledging its historical significance within the landscape of modern prints. For educational purposes, high-resolution reproductions of this historically important work are often made available through collections designated as part of the public domain.
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