Who painted May Picture?

May Picture was painted by Paul Klee in 1925-01-01.

Where can I see May Picture?

May Picture is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is May Picture?

May Picture is associated with Bauhaus.

Can I buy a print of May Picture?

Museum-quality prints of May Picture are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

May Picture

Paul Klee , 1925

May Picture is an oil painting by the Bauhaus artist Paul Klee. It dates from 1925 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work's abstract language resists literal interpretation, instead conveying mood and atmosphere through color relationships and compositional balance.

The painting presents a non-representational composition of color fields and linear structures. Klee's palette includes muted greens, ochres, and grays, arranged in geometric and biomorphic forms that evoke growth and seasonal renewal. The title "May Picture" suggests a thematic association with spring, linking the abstract shapes to the renewal and vitality commonly associated with the month of May.

The work's abstract language resists literal interpretation, instead conveying mood and atmosphere through color relationships and compositional balance. Klee's use of abstraction functions as a visual metaphor for natural cycles and the interplay of light and form.

Technique & Style

Created in 1925, May Picture is an abstract painting executed in oil paint on a cardboard support. The work measures 42.2 cm in height and 49.5 cm in width. As an example of abstract art, the piece relies on the application of oil medium to a non-traditional, rigid cardboard surface rather than canvas.

This combination of materials and the resulting abstract composition define its formal qualities within Paul Klee's output from the mid-1920s.

History & Provenance

May Picture is an oil painting on cardboard created in 1925 by Paul Klee. The work measures 42.2 cm in height and 49.5 cm in width. It is classified as an abstract painting and exemplifies abstract art through its non-representational composition.

It is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is inventoried as 58.195.

Overview

May Picture, an oil painting from 1925 by the Swiss-born German artist Paul Klee, exemplifies his abstract approach to art. This work reflects Klee's ongoing investigation into color and form, characteristic of his engagement with the Bauhaus movement. The composition features a distinctive grid structure, presenting a visual exploration of chromatic relationships and textural variations. It is currently part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

Context

Created during Klee's tenure at the Bauhaus, May Picture embodies the school's emphasis on theoretical exploration in art. Klee's individual style, while rooted in abstraction, synthesized elements from Expressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism. This diverse influence allowed him to experiment deeply with visual language and compositional principles, moving beyond mere representation to explore the inherent properties of color and form.