Letter Ghost (Geist eines Briefes)

Letter Ghost (Geist eines Briefes), created by Paul Klee in 1937, is a delicate and haunting example of the artist's late graphic output. Classified formally as a drawing, this intimate work utilizes pigmented paste applied directly onto newspaper, a combination of materials that lends the composition a unique, subtle texture and tonal complexity. The choice of newspaper as a support reflects Klee’s ongoing experimentation with unconventional, sometimes humble, materials during a period of intense financial and political upheaval.

Klee, a pivotal figure in modern German art, produced this work while exiled in Switzerland, navigating the worsening climate under the Nazi regime, which had deemed his output "degenerate." The work’s title, translating literally to the "Ghost of a Letter," suggests themes of fragile communication, disappearance, or a message that lingers after its substance has vanished. Structurally, Klee employs his characteristic language of abstracted signs and fragmented shapes, resulting in an ephemeral image that appears simultaneously structured and dissolving. The application of the pigmented paste allows for a richness that crosses the boundary between traditional drawing and painting, with the underlying newspaper occasionally revealing itself and contributing to the overall muted color scheme.

The year 1937 marks a critical stage in Klee's production, wherein his forms often became larger, flatter, and enclosed by heavy lines, reflecting a growing urgency in his art. This piece exemplifies that shift towards starker abstraction while maintaining the visual wit inherent in Klee’s earlier output. The delicate nature of the medium requires careful conservation, yet the lasting impact of the artist’s oeuvre ensures that high-quality prints and studies of this important work are widely available. Letter Ghost (Geist eines Briefes) remains an essential component of Klee’s legacy, housed today in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.