Accession Number
2008/2.292

Title
Zeichnung zum Drama der Entzweiung

Artist(s)
Paul Klee

Artist Nationality
Swiss

Object Creation Date
1921

Medium & Support
pen and ink on paper on board

Dimensions
17 3/8 in x 14 3/16 in (44.1 cm x 36.1 cm);11 1/16 in x 8 11/16 in (28.1 cm x 22 cm);18 1/2 in x 15 3/8 in x 9/16 in (47 cm x 39 cm x 1.5 cm);17 3/8 in x 14 3/16 in (44.1 cm x 36.1 cm);15 3/4 in x 13 7/16 in (40 cm x 34.2 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Nesta Spink in memory of Helen B. Hall

Label copy
Paul Klee
Switzerland, 1879–1940
Zeichnung zum Drame der Entzweiung
(Drawing for a Drama of Disunion)
1921
Ink on paper
Gift of Nesta Spink in memory of Helen B. Hall, 2008/2.292

Subject matter
Created during Klee's first year as an instructor at the Bauhaus in Weimar, this work is characteristic of many of his drawings in theme and aesthetic. In this image, Klee depicts an imagined theatrical scene with humanoid figures, who are part machine, part animal, part monster. The figure at the bottom right, with his fox-like face, is being confronted by a steamship and a small figure behind it looks like it is flying towards the fox-figure. It is likely that this scene relates to the larger series of performances that took place at the Bauhaus in which burlesque and mechanical elements were integrated. These humorous and often grotesque kind of figures can be found in many of the over 10,000 drawings and watercolors that he executed while at the Bauhaus – all meticulously number within each year.

Physical Description
This line drawing in black ink has a large abstract figure at the bottom right that leans back as another figure comes at it from the left, along with a ship-like motif above it. In additon, there is a large abstract form with a tiny wheel above the name "Bulz". An arrow starts from left below the large figure and points down to the lower right corner. The work is dated (u.r) "1921" in pencil and dated, numbered and titled (l.c.) in pen "1921/157 Zeichnung zum Drama der Entweiung".

Primary Object Classification
Drawing

Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Bauhaus
figures (representations)
line drawings (drawings)
plays (performed works)
ships