Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

27 Top Quotes By Paul Klee, The Misunderstood Painter

Famous As: Swiss-born German Artist Whose Work Exhibited Shades of 'Expressionism', 'Cubism', and 'Surrealism'
Born On: December 18, 1879
Died On: May 29, 1940
Born In: Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland
Died At Age: 60

Paul Klee was a famous German artist, renowned for his individualistic style art which was heavily influenced by Expressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism. His famous works includes Twittering Machine, Fish Magic, Viaducts Break Ranks and several other drawings and etches. His work expressed his child like perspective and dry sense of humor. Along with Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky, he instructed at the Bauhaus school of art, design and architecture. Along with his paintings, Klee also published several books, essays and lectures such as Contributions to a pictorial theory of form, Ways of Studying Nature, Graphik and many more. In his essay, ‘Writings on Form and Design Theory’, Klee scrutinized the color theory. These lectures published in English were heavily popular as Paul Klee Notebooks. Famous museums such as San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim Museum and Berggruen Museum house majority of Klee’s works. His thoughts and sayings illuminated ideologies of Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Surrealism, and Abstraction. Much like his colors, he often liked to paint with words. Here’s an exclusive collection of quotes from this iconic painter.

One eye sees, the other feels.

One eye sees, the other feels.

Paul Klee
A single day is enough to make us a little larger or, another time, a little smaller.

A single day is enough to make us a little larger or, another time, a little smaller.

Paul Klee
A line is a dot that went for a walk.

A line is a dot that went for a walk.

Paul Klee
Art does not reproduce what we see. It makes us see.

Art does not reproduce what we see. It makes us see.

Paul Klee
Art does not reproduce the visible; it makes visible.

Art does not reproduce the visible; it makes visible.

Paul Klee
One day I will lie nowhere
with an angel at my side.

One day I will lie nowhere with an angel at my side.

Paul Klee
Art does not reproduce what is visible, it makes things visible.

Art does not reproduce what is visible, it makes things visible.

Paul Klee
Color has got me. I no longer need to chase after it. It has got me for ever. I know it. That is the meaning of this happy hour.

Color has got me. I no longer need to chase after it. It has got me for ever. I know it. That is the meaning of this happy hour.

Paul Klee
Colour and I are one.

Colour and I are one.

Paul Klee
It is the artistic mission to penetrate as far as may be toward that secret ground where primal law feeds growth.

It is the artistic mission to penetrate as far as may be toward that secret ground where primal law feeds growth.

Paul Klee
After all, it's rather difficult to achieve the exact minimum, and it involves risks.

After all, it's rather difficult to achieve the exact minimum, and it involves risks.

Paul Klee
Becoming is superior to being.

Becoming is superior to being.

Paul Klee
A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.

A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.

Paul Klee
One does not lash hat lies at a distance. The foibles that we ridicule must at least be a little bit our own. Only then will the work be a part of our own flesh. The garden must be weeded.

One does not lash hat lies at a distance. The foibles that we ridicule must at least be a little bit our own. Only then will the work be a part of our own flesh. The garden must be weeded.

Paul Klee
Nature is garrulous to the point of confusion, let the artist be truly taciturn.

Nature is garrulous to the point of confusion, let the artist be truly taciturn.

Paul Klee
The worst state of affairs is when science begins to concern itself with art.

The worst state of affairs is when science begins to concern itself with art.

Paul Klee
He has found his style, when he cannot do otherwise.

He has found his style, when he cannot do otherwise.

Paul Klee
When looking at any significant work of art, remember that a more significant one probably has had to be sacrificed.

When looking at any significant work of art, remember that a more significant one probably has had to be sacrificed.

Paul Klee
The art of mastering life is the prerequisite for all further forms of expression, whether they are paintings, sculptures, tragedies, or musical compositions.

The art of mastering life is the prerequisite for all further forms of expression, whether they are paintings, sculptures, tragedies, or musical compositions.

Paul Klee
Everything vanishes around me, and works are born as if out of the void. Ripe, graphic fruits fall off. My hand has become the obedient instrument of a remote will.

Everything vanishes around me, and works are born as if out of the void. Ripe, graphic fruits fall off. My hand has become the obedient instrument of a remote will.

Paul Klee
Color possesses me. I don't have to pursue it. It will possess me always, I know it. That is the meaning of this happy hour: Color and I are one. I am a painter.

Color possesses me. I don't have to pursue it. It will possess me always, I know it. That is the meaning of this happy hour: Color and I are one. I am a painter.

Paul Klee
To emphasize only the beautiful seems to me to be like a mathematical system that only concerns itself with positive numbers.

To emphasize only the beautiful seems to me to be like a mathematical system that only concerns itself with positive numbers.

Paul Klee
The painter should not paint what he sees, but what will be seen.

The painter should not paint what he sees, but what will be seen.

Paul Klee
Art does not reproduce what we see; rather, it makes us see.

Art does not reproduce what we see; rather, it makes us see.

Paul Klee

Beauty is as relative as light and dark. Thus, there exists no beautiful woman, none at all, because you are never certain that a still far more beautiful woman will not appear and completely shame the supposed beauty of the first.

Paul Klee

Children also have artistic ability, and there is wisdom in there having it! The more helpless they are, the more instructive are the examples they furnish us; and they must be preserved free of corruption from an early age.

Paul Klee

In the final analysis, a drawing simply is no longer a drawing, no matter how self-sufficient its execution may be. It is a symbol, and the more profoundly the imaginary lines of projection meet higher dimensions, the better.

Paul Klee