How did Paul Klee’s Bauhaus paintings differ from his earlier work?

During his tenure at the Bauhaus in the 1920s, Paul Klee’s artistic approach underwent a significant shift toward rationalization, largely influenced by the school's prevalent geometric aesthetic and his own role as a lecturer on the mechanics of art.1

Compared to his earlier work, his Bauhaus-era paintings differed in the following ways:

• Increased Geometry: His compositions became more geometric, reflecting his efforts to teach a methodology of art that utilized simple linear constructions and geometric motifs to build complex symbolic structures.1
• Reduced Complexity: The number of forms employed in a single composition was sharply reduced.1
• New Structural Motifs: He developed specific types of compositions, such as those made entirely of coloured squares, horizontal striations, or patterns resembling basket weaves.1
• Symbolic Coexistence: He created evocative paintings where disparate objects—such as animals, faces, and heavenly bodies—were placed together within a black, undifferentiated space.1

These developments marked a transition from the more whimsical, farcical, or childlike imagery that characterized his pre-war and immediate postwar periods toward a more rigorous, formal, and analytical style.1