Old Man Figuring (Rechnender Greis)

Old Man Figuring (Rechnender Greis) by Paul Klee is an etching created in 1929, a pivotal year during his tenure as a master at the Bauhaus school in Dessau. Classified specifically as a print, this piece reflects the intellectual rigor and visual experimentation characteristic of the German avant-garde during the late Weimar Republic era. Klee frequently utilized the precise linearity of printmaking as a means to explore symbolic narratives and abstract structures, often contrasting the controlled nature of these graphics with the more fluid qualities of his watercolor and oil transfer works.

The subject matter centers on an aged figure seemingly engaged in deep, intense mental calculation, or "figuring," as the title implies. Klee employs the sharp, deliberate lines inherent to the etching process to deconstruct the figure and the spatial environment, resulting in a geometric portrait that borders on abstraction. This approach moves beyond traditional figurative representation, conveying not just the appearance of the man, but the internal mechanism of thought itself. The complexity of the etched lines suggests either the burden or the concentration required for intellectual struggle, embodying Klee’s enduring interest in the psychological dimension of human experience.

Created shortly before Klee left the Bauhaus for Düsseldorf, this 1929 work is significant for documenting his sustained engagement with the graphic arts throughout his career. Although many of Klee’s works remain under copyright, some important prints and graphic pieces from this era are beginning to enter the public domain, enhancing scholarly access and the availability of high-quality reproductions. This work, a fine example of early 20th-century printmaking, is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), solidifying its importance within the canon of Modern German art.