Hannah

"Hannah" is an early, highly refined drawing by the influential Swiss-German modernist Paul Klee, executed in 1910. Classified as a drawing rather than a finished painting, this precise work utilizes ink applied to paper, which the artist then skillfully affixed to a board support.

The piece originates from a crucial transitional period for Klee. While he would later become internationally renowned for his explorations of color theory and association with the Bauhaus movement, the output from 1910 reflects his intense focus on line, form, and pure draftsmanship. This early twentieth-century style precedes his decisive move toward complete abstraction, displaying a concentrated study in linear expression characteristic of contemporary German artistic development.

Klee used drawing as a fundamental component of his artistic practice, employing ink to capture ideas with immediate clarity and rigorous structure. The specific mounting technique-paper on board-speaks to the artist's methodical approach to preserving and presenting his graphic works, elevating the status of the drawing beyond a mere sketch. During this period, Klee was absorbing diverse influences, from late Symbolism to early Expressionist currents, laying the groundwork for the theoretical rigor that would define his later career.

This German work from 1910 is a vital component of Klee's developing visual language, offering insight into the technical precision that anchored his revolutionary approach to modern art. The piece is permanently housed in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. While the original resides within the museum, the wide distribution of Klee’s graphic work ensures that high-quality prints and reproductions are frequently available through museum collections entering the public domain.