Paul Klee, Esel, 1925, Lithograph

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Lithograph on imitation Japan paper, from the book Monatshefte für Bücherfreunde und Graphiksammler, edited by Hans Loubier and Willy Kurth, … Read more Lithograph on imitation Japan paper, from the book Monatshefte für Bücherfreunde und Graphiksammler, edited by Hans Loubier and Willy Kurth, 1st year 1925. Leipzig, Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1925, issue 5. Hand signed in pencil, and inscribed in pencil "Esel". Very good condition. Ref. Kornfeld 97/c. Prov. Galerie Kornfeld. A striking example of Paul Klee’s inventive graphic vocabulary, Esel depicts a stylized donkey figure constructed from rhythmic, cross-hatched lines that verge on abstraction. Executed in 1925, the work demonstrates Klee’s ability to fuse the whimsical with the profound, imbuing his subject with a sense of both humor and psychological depth. The lithograph reveals Klee’s fascination with primitivism, children’s art, and the unconscious, all central influences in his practice during his tenure at the Bauhaus. The donkey, with its angular form and expressive features, stands as both a totemic figure and a playful caricature, reflecting Klee’s unique balance of irony and sensitivity. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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