Artwork
The Hour Before One Night
The Hour Before One Night is an unspecified painting by Paul Klee. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1940 by Paul Klee, a Swiss‑born artist who spent most of his career in Germany, *The Hour Before One Night* is an abstract oil on canvas now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work presents a non‑representational arrangement of color and line, inviting viewers to contemplate a fleeting moment suggested by its German title.
Subject & Meaning
The painting does not depict a narrative scene; instead it offers a visual meditation on time and transition. Three vertical red forms dominate the centre, while a tangled backdrop of black strokes and muted blues suggests an unsettled atmosphere, echoing the notion of an hour poised before darkness.
Technique & Style
Klee employs his characteristic blend of bold geometric blocks and spontaneous scribbles, juxtaposing flat color fields with gestural marks. The palette—vivid reds, deep blues, earthy browns—creates contrast, while the irregular edges prevent a seamless integration of forms, reflecting his ongoing experiments with color theory and abstract composition.
History & Provenance
Painted during the final years of Klee’s life, the work reflects his mature period of synthesis between expressionist, cubist, and surrealist influences. After changing hands several times, it entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s modern European painting collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Klee (German: ; 18 December 1879 – 29 June 1940) was a Swiss-born German artist.
