Giant Aphid (Riesenblattlaus) (plate 10) from the illustrated book Deutsche Graphiker der Gegenwart (German Printmakers of Our Time)

Giant Aphid (Riesenblattlaus) (plate 10) from the illustrated book Deutsche Graphiker der Gegenwart (German Printmakers of Our Time) by Paul Klee is a key example of the artist's engagement with graphic arts in the early 1920s. This specific work is a lithograph, included as one of fifteen original lithographs in the comprehensive portfolio dedicated to contemporary German printmakers. The anthology itself was significant, also featuring eight woodcuts, eight photographic reproductions, and a distinct lithographed cover, serving as a survey of the varied graphic processes popular in German art following World War I.

Executed in 1920, the lithograph captures Klee’s signature blending of observation and abstraction. While the title suggests a specific entomological subject, the depiction of the creature in Giant Aphid (Riesenblattlaus) is filtered through Klee’s deeply personal visual language, prioritizing expressive line and stylized form over naturalistic representation. Klee, a pivotal figure in German art during this period and associated with the Bauhaus, utilized the relatively accessible print medium frequently during this time, allowing for wider dissemination of his explorations into form and narrative. The composition is noted for its careful balance of negative space and the dense, characteristic lines achieved through the lithographic process.

The Deutsche Graphiker der Gegenwart compilation serves as an important document charting the trajectory of experimental art styles in 1920s Germany. Klee’s contribution, represented by this stark image, showcases the technical depth and variety of fine art prints being produced in the immediate post-war period. The work is particularly valued in academic study for illustrating Klee’s transition from illustrative techniques toward deeper structural abstraction. This piece is held within the esteemed collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), ensuring the preservation and availability of these historical prints for future scholarship, especially as works created in the early 1920s continue to move into the public domain.