1.4.6: Self-Expression
- Page ID
- 257179
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Self-Expression
Paul Klee, Cat and Bird, oil and ink on canvas, 38 x 53 cm, 1928, Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.
The large-eyed cat stares pervasively at the viewer. The "in your face" intensity is created by the cat's head filling the entire format of the artwork. Bright colors of orange, red, green, and pink seem to glow, being dark and strongly applied at the center of various points, but then seeming to melt and expand outwards. The repetition of thin, but clearly evident lines, possessing a gently curving quality and often coming to sharp points, creates a good sense of unity and variety. The nose, being red and heart-shaped, stands out as a strong point of emphasis, as does the curious pink bird on the cat's forehead, perhaps the great desire of the cat's hunger, all it can think about. The style is child-like and whimsical. We see a cat and bird, but the forms are simplified, abstracted, as if the work was created more out of personal joy and interest rather than trying to say anything in particular. However, there is something of a tension between the cat and bird, suggestive of natural desires and the challenges of attaining them.
Investigating the work, nothing credible has yet turned up to directly reveal the artist's purpose in creating this work. While Klee's early work shows that he could skillfully draw complex and detailed forms, over time and through the influence of various modern art movements, such as Cubism and Expressionism, Klee developed his unique, abstracted approach. Much of his work features line, unique combinations of color, and often symbol-like juxtapositions, such as the bird appearing on the cat's forehead. Such qualities seem based on exploring the internal worlds of psychology and spirituality. Or perhaps the focus is on the child-like celebration of colors and forms. An argument for Delight as the main function could be made. But the practice of simply expressing one's self, one's personal world (I read somewhere that he loved cats), and interest in internal tensions could also be the emphasis. This work, therefore, could be a good example of Self-Expression.
(I partly wonder if I should have presented an example of Self-Expression that was more obvious. However, it is good to show that un-masking the main function of a work is not always an easy task.)
Content on this page was written by Jon McCallum, 2024.