Perseus (Der Witz hat über das Leid gesiegt) [Perseus-The Triumph of Brain over Body]

Perseus (Der Witz hat über das Leid gesiegt) [Perseus-The Triumph of Brain over Body], created by Paul Klee in 1904, is a significant early work executed as an etching on zinc. This print belongs to Klee’s foundational period, classified within the influential 1901 to 1925 timeframe, where the Swiss artist explored themes of satire, the grotesque, and philosophical concepts. The work directly references the Greek myth of Perseus, the slayer of Medusa, but the extended German title radically shifts the focus from heroic action to intellectual dominance, suggesting that "the joke has triumphed over suffering" and validating the power of the mind over physical force.

Klee utilized the etching technique to achieve the stark contrast and delicate line work necessary for conveying the detailed, almost frantic energy present in his early graphic production. The composition is defined by dense, intricate lines, characteristic of the graphic revival underway in German and Swiss artistic circles at the turn of the century. Unlike the brightly colored, abstract compositions that would define his later career and his time at the Bauhaus, this black-and-white work emphasizes narrative and symbolic meaning, demonstrating Klee's early mastery of drawing and caricature techniques refined during his studies in Munich.

Produced during a critical turning point in Modern Art, this piece stands as an important example of Klee's development, bridging late Symbolism and nascent Expressionism before his full embrace of abstraction. The intellectual conceit suggested by the title, prioritizing Witz (wit or cleverness) over mere bodily strength, foreshadows the complex theoretical framework Klee would later apply to his pedagogy. This influential print is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, providing valuable insight into the artistic and intellectual concerns that shaped the career of one of the twentieth century’s most significant artists.