Paul Klee Swiss-German, 1879-1940

Paul Klee (b. 1879 Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland - d. 1940 Muralto, Switzerland) was a Swiss-German artist celebrated for his highly individual style that blended elements of expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. A master of color and form, Klee created a vast body of work spanning painting, drawing, and printmaking, often marked by playful symbols, whimsical figures, and lyrical abstraction.

Klee taught at the Bauhaus from 1921 to 1931, where he influenced generations of modern artists with his theories on color and design. Despite political pressures in Nazi Germany—where his work was labeled “degenerate art”—Klee’s innovative spirit remained undiminished. His legacy endures as one of the most influential and beloved figures of 20th-century modernism.