The artwork titled “City of Churches” is a remarkable creation by artist Paul Klee, dating back to 1918. This cityscape is crafted with pen, pencil, and watercolor on paper and measures 15.4 x 21 centimeters. The piece belongs to the Cubism movement and is currently held in a private collection. This small but impactful work exemplifies Klee’s signature style within the context of the early 20th-century avant-garde.
The artwork itself depicts a somewhat abstract, fragmented cityscape, presumably composed of various churches as suggested by the title. Each church appears interlocked with the others, forming a dense and chromatically rich urban tapestry. Architectural forms are broken down into geometric shapes and reassembled in a manner that freely interprets the space and structure of the city’s religious buildings. The color palette is varied, with reds, blacks, and ochres creating depth and visual interest. Pen and pencil are employed to outline and detail the structures, adding definition and layered texture to the overlapping elements. Klee’s use of watercolor lends the piece a sense of atmospheric depth, suggesting moods and not just physical forms. Despite the abstract representation, elements such as windows, clocks, and spires can be discerned, anchoring the composition in the recognizable motifs of ecclesiastical architecture.
