Saint of the Inner Light (Die Heilige vom innern Licht) for the portfolio New European Graphics, 1st Portfolio: Masters of the Staatliches Bauhaus, Weimar (Neue europäische Graphik, 1. Mappe: Meister des Staatlichen Bauhauses in Weimar)

Saint of the Inner Light (Die Heilige vom innern Licht) for the portfolio New European Graphics, 1st Portfolio: Masters of the Staatliches Bauhaus, Weimar (Neue europäische Graphik, 1. Mappe: Meister des Staatlichen Bauhauses in Weimar) is a seminal lithograph created by Paul Klee in 1921. This print medium was central to the Bauhaus curriculum, and the resulting portfolio documenting the "Masters" provided essential validation for the school’s pioneering integration of fine art and technical execution. The production of this influential series occurred shortly after Klee joined the faculty in 1920, placing the piece directly within the context of Weimar’s most productive artistic period.

The work exemplifies Klee’s highly intellectualized approach to abstraction, merging structural geometry with profound symbolic content. Utilizing the precise, linear capabilities of the lithography process, Klee constructs the figure of the saint through a sparse, angular composition. The central form appears as an abstracted architectural element, built primarily from lines and basic shapes, emphasizing spiritual geometry over realistic depiction. This formal approach was crucial to the German artistic avant-garde of the era.

The title, referencing "inner light," underscores Klee’s enduring interest in metaphysical concepts and the visualization of internal states. Rather than depicting a traditional religious icon, this figure serves as a visualization of illumination and internal energy, aligning with the modernist belief that art should communicate subjective experience. This sophisticated synthesis of the abstract and the symbolic allowed Klee to transcend traditional figuration while retaining humanistic resonance.

As a key contribution to the Bauhaus graphic experiments in 1921, the Saint of the Inner Light showcases the artist’s mastery of the print medium and his commitment to structural exploration. This rare work is an important document of early European modernism and remains a significant piece within the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).