The Friends (Die Freundinnen)

The Friends (Die Freundinnen) is a foundational drawing by Paul Klee, created in 1909. This early, intimate work captures the artist during a crucial transitional phase before his full exploration of abstraction. The piece is classified as a drawing, executed using ink on a unique monotype process applied to board. This inventive technique, combining drawing with a transfer printing method, allowed the young German artist to achieve textures and visual depths distinct from standard linear drawing.

The use of monotype in 1909 highlights Klee's lifelong experimentation with graphic processes. The transfer technique results in blurred lines and modulated tones, lending the two figures a haunting, almost ephemeral quality. While distinctly figurative, the stylized nature of the subjects, rendered primarily in dark ink, foreshadows the linear reduction and formal simplification that would define Klee’s mature career. The stark contrast between the heavy outlines and the scraped, subtle background texture draws the viewer into the close relationship suggested by the title, Die Freundinnen.

This early 20th-century work is essential for understanding Klee's evolution from conventional draftsmanship toward modernist innovation. Despite dating from 1909, a period when Klee was still formulating his signature aesthetic, the commitment to experimental mediums is clearly evident. Today, this important drawing resides in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. As a historical artwork of such significance, high-quality reproductions and prints often circulate via institutional and public domain collections, ensuring broader access to Klee's formative artistic efforts.