Sganarelle, 1922 by Paul Klee is a distinctive mixed-media work created using oil transfer drawing and watercolor on paper, finished with a precise border of gouache and mounted onto cardboard. This highly experimental technique allowed Klee to achieve a distinctive, nervous line quality essential to the characterization. The title references the often-comical, cynical stock character from Molière’s plays, reflecting Klee’s ongoing exploration of satirical figures and theatricality, themes he frequently addressed during his tenure teaching at the Bauhaus.
Klee’s approach blends figurative elements with formalized abstraction, characteristic of his production in the early 1920s. The simplicity of the form and the subtle application of color define the figure’s expressive and somewhat anxious demeanor. Classified as a drawing, this piece demonstrates the artist’s mastery of line and tone, which he elevated beyond traditional media boundaries. The importance of works like Sganarelle, 1922 is affirmed by its inclusion in the prestigious collection of the Kunstsammlung NRW. Although the original resides in Germany, the influence of Klee’s revolutionary drawings ensures that high-quality prints and studies of his methods are readily available for scholarly and public domain use.
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