Artwork
Collection of Figurines
Collection of Figurines is an oil painting by Paul Klee. It dates from 1926 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1926, *Collection of Figurines* is an oil painting by Paul Klee that now belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work presents a lively assemblage of abstracted human forms rendered in vivid hues, set against a dark ground that heightens their visual impact.
Subject & Meaning
The composition arranges a series of stylized figures whose outlines suggest heads, hats, and floral motifs. By reducing recognizable features to geometric fragments, Klee invites viewers to interpret the scene as a playful exploration of identity and the relationship between individual parts and a larger whole.
Technique & Style
Klee applies the oil in thick, impasto strokes that give the surface a palpable texture. Bright reds, blues and yellows intersect with sharp, angular lines, producing a star‑like network at the center. The approach reflects his synthesis of expressionist vigor, cubist fragmentation, and surrealist imagination, while emphasizing his ongoing investigations into color and form.
History & Provenance
Born in Switzerland and later active in Germany, Klee produced the painting during a period of intense experimentation with abstraction. After changing hands several times, the piece entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s modern art holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Klee (German: ; 18 December 1879 – 29 June 1940) was a Swiss-born German artist.
