Paul Klee was born in Switzerland. As the son of a professional violinist, early in his childhood Paul Klee took a liking to music, and it was only in his teen years, his attention turned from music towards the visual art forms. During the course of his career, he participated in various art movements, becoming one of the leading forces in such forms including expressionism, cubism, and surrealism.

In the year 1917, many had begun to describe Paul Klee as one of the best young, new German artists of his time. A three year contract followed, with dealer Hans Goltz, and this brought upon much of the commercial success which Paul Klee realized during his career, and during this stint of time which was just after the war.

From 1921 to 1931, Paul Klee worked as a teacher in Bauhaus, where he worked with a friend, Wassily Klandinsky. Shortly following, Paul Klee began to teach at the academy, working with students on a variety of forms, and on the styles which were popular and which he toured with, during the several years prior. He only worked at the academy for two years, where he was removed from his post in 1933; he was fired when the academy was taken under Nazi rule.

In 1937, Nazi officials purged German museums of works the Party considered to be degenerate. Paul Klee’s works were ridiculed, as well as the works of Wassily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, Piet Mondrian, and Max Ernst. Today these artists are considered masters of the twentieth century.

One eye sees, the other feels. –Paul Klee

After being fired from the academy, Paul Klee and his family moved back to Switzerland, where he would remain until his death several years later.