The Near Future Holds Mortal Danger (plate facing page 70) from Potsdamer Platz oder Die Nächte des neuen Messias. Ekstatische Visionen (Potsdamer Platz or The Nights of the New Messiah. Ecstatic Visions)

The Near Future Holds Mortal Danger (plate facing page 70) from Potsdamer Platz oder Die Nächte des neuen Messias. Ekstatische Visionen (Potsdamer Platz or The Nights of the New Messiah. Ecstatic Visions) is a powerful graphic work created by Paul Klee in 1919. This piece is technically one of ten offset lithograph reproductions compiled to form an illustrated book that addresses the post-war turbulence and spiritual upheaval sweeping through the nation.

Created during the critical year of 1919, as the Weimar Republic was establishing itself, the print inherently captures the anxiety reflected in its title, dealing directly with the fragile social and political climate within German culture. Klee, recognized for his highly personal explorations of line, nascent abstraction, and narrative structure, employs stark contrast and sharp geometric forms appropriate for the subject matter of Ecstatic Visions and the looming threat referenced in the print’s caption. This period marked a crucial transition for Klee, where he focused his practice on developing formal complexity and precision in preparation for his later work with the Bauhaus. The graphic nature of this work contrasts the expressive chaos of the subject with the artist’s controlled manipulation of form.

As an integral part of the larger illustrated book project, this specific work demonstrates Klee's dedication to graphic arts alongside his celebrated painting career. The reproduction medium, offset lithography, allowed for the broader dissemination of these often unsettling artistic statements, establishing them as vital examples of early modern German prints. These graphic works are classified as an Illustrated Book and offer crucial insight into the artist’s mindset immediately following the conclusion of World War I. This singular plate, The Near Future Holds Mortal Danger, is currently held within the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.