Flower Myth, 1918, by Paul Klee

Flower Myth, 1918, by Paul Klee
Flower Myth, 1918, by Paul Klee

In front of a deep, apparently spatial red background, a floating plant grows in the middle of the picture, accompanied by simple symbols of the sun, moon and stars. A bird approaches the opening flower from above. A thin, silver line frames the composition.

Paul Klee was not representing objects. Instead he used typical symbols for plants and trees, for heavenly bodies and Earth and other things. This shows that he withdrew from "realistic" representation. It does not deal with a specific time, date or season. Klee considered the entirety of creation. The proximity of simultaneously portraying the sketched elements - earth, sun, moon and stars suggests this.

Paul Klee did not refer to a specific plant either. His interest is in plants in general: a plant growing out of a bulb; that it has roots, leaves and that a blossom blooms at the top, already r esembling the fruit it will be. A creature approaches to pick the pollen. The cyclic nature of life and growth in the universe is emphasized.