The Approximate Man (L'Homme approximatif) from the deluxe edition of the book L'Homme approximatif by Tristan Tzara

The Approximate Man (L'Homme approximatif) from the deluxe edition of the book L'Homme approximatif by Tristan Tzara is a seminal graphic work created by Paul Klee in 1931. This exceptional piece is an etching and drypoint print, demonstrating the artist's refined expertise in intaglio techniques. The work was conceived as an illustration for the deluxe edition of the collection of poems, L'Homme approximatif, by the influential Romanian-French Dada co-founder, Tristan Tzara. Klee's contribution elevates the literary work, offering a visual counterpart to Tzara’s experimental and often destabilizing verses.

During this period, Klee, who had been a key instructor at the German Bauhaus until its impending closure, was deeply engaged in exploring the mechanics of visual representation and the abstraction of identity, aligning him closely with nascent Surrealist thought. The abstract figure depicted in the work embodies the philosophical "approximate man"—a being whose form is perpetually shifting and undefined, mirroring the uncertainty and fragmentation of the interwar era.

Klee utilizes sharp, angular lines produced by the drypoint technique to etch a restless, fragmented composition. The medium itself emphasizes irregularity, as the burr created by the drypoint needle gives the finished prints a unique, atmospheric textural quality. Executed in 1931, this powerful collaboration between two giants of Modernism provides crucial insight into the cross-pollination between experimental poetry and the graphic arts in German-influenced culture. This historically important artwork is currently held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).