How did political events in Nazi Germany appear in Paul Kleeās art?
When Adolf Hitler rose to power in 1933, the political climate in Germany became hostile toward modern artists like Paul Klee. Due to his known left-wing sympathies, Klee was dismissed from his teaching position at the Dusseldorf Academy, and his home and studio were searched by the Gestapo.1
Despite these pressures, Klee continued to create art, and his work from this period directly addressed the political turmoil of the era. His drawings became increasingly representational and narrative, serving as a medium to critique the prevailing atmosphere of the time. Specifically, these works dealt in an ironic fashion with themes such as:
- Demagogy1
- Militarism1
- Political violence1
- Emigration1
Ultimately, the political environment forced Klee to leave Germany at the end of 1933, leading him to return to the relative isolation of Switzerland.1