PAUL KLEE - Color Chart Qu1

THE ARTWORK

Color Chart (QU1) by Paul Klee, created in 1930, is a refined exploration of color theory and structure. The artwork features a grid of colored squares, each containing varying hues and tones, demonstrating Klee's meticulous study of color relationships. This piece reflects his Bauhaus teaching period, where he focused on understanding how colors interact and influence one another.

The grid-like arrangement brings an orderly, almost scientific structure to the vibrant palette, showcasing Klee’s ability to balance spontaneity with a sense of logic. The shifting tones within the grid—from warm reds and oranges to cooler blues and greens—reveal his sensitivity to the psychological and emotional effects of color.

Though abstract, Color Chart (QU1) evokes a sense of harmony and rhythm, turning a simple arrangement of colors into a meditative experience. It represents Klee’s fascination with the abstract potential of color as a fundamental building block in art, uniting form, emotion, and theory.

THE ARTIST

Paul Klee (1879–1940) was a Swiss-German painter and one of the most influential figures in modern art. Known for his highly individual style, Klee’s work transcended traditional categories, blending elements of abstraction, surrealism, cubism, and expressionism. His art is characterized by a childlike simplicity and playfulness, often using bold colors, geometric shapes, and fantastical elements to evoke deeper emotional and symbolic meanings.

Klee was born in Switzerland and showed an early interest in both music and art. He later studied in Munich, where he became involved with avant-garde circles, including the influential Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) group alongside Wassily Kandinsky. Throughout his career, Klee was fascinated by color theory, and his teaching at the Bauhaus School in the 1920s significantly influenced his artistic approach. He saw painting as a spiritual practice, often drawing on music, poetry, and nature to create abstract compositions that reflect his inner world.

Some of Klee's most famous works include Twittering Machine (1922), Castle and Sun (1928), and Senecio (1922). His innovative approach to form and color, along with his unique symbolic language, has left a lasting legacy in the development of modern art, influencing generations of artists after him.

THE PRINT

• A4 Size = 29.7cm x 21cm = 11.7" x 8.25"
• A3 Size = 42cm x 29.7cm = 16.5" x 11.7"
• High resolution giclée print - 600dpi
• Printed to order
• Unframed & unmounted
• Professionally printed using Canon imagePROGRAF printers
• Digitally restored by OharaPrints from high resolution scans of the original artwork
• Made in and shipped from Casterton, Victoria, Australia

PAPER

• Canson Infinity - Arches BFK Rives White
• Paper weight = 310gsm
• 100% cotton
• Archival, museum grade
• Acid free
• No OBAs (optical brightening agents)

Arches BFK Rives is a high-quality, archival-grade paper manufactured at the Arches paper mill in France - one of the oldest papermakers in Europe. It is made from 100% cotton rag using a time-honoured manufacturing process, giving the paper exceptional durability, longevity, and resistance to yellowing or deterioration over time. Despite its substantial weight and thickness it maintains a very soft and supple feel. The paper has a natural white tone and is completely free of any optical brighteners (OBAs), allowing for superb colour rendition and deep blacks.

INK

• Canon Lucia Pro Inks
• Pigment based
• Archival, museum-grade
• Brilliant colours, even gradient and razor-sharp lines
• Highly stable and fade resistant, excellent humidity-fastness

SHIPPING & HANDLING

• All orders are dispatched on the NEXT BUSINESS DAY after receiving the order
• All prints are shipped via AUSTRALIA POST with TRACKING
• For postage rates and estimated delivery times please see our SHIPPING page
• All prints are shipped flat, not rolled
• Each print is individually placed into a resealable, archival grade plastic protective sleeve
• Prints are carefully packaged in very sturdy 700gsm cardboard envelopes, along with 1050gsm boxboard sheets which provide extra strength & rigidity to prevent bending or folding during transit