The artwork titled “Growth of the night plants” was created by the artist Paul Klee in 1922. This expressionist piece is constructed with oil on cardboard, measuring 33.9 by 47.2 cm. The work falls under the genre of flower painting and is housed at the Neue Pinakothek in Munich, Germany. The painting demonstrates characteristics of Expressionism, a movement focused on representing emotional experience rather than physical reality.
The artwork presents an abstract composition where color and geometry take precedence over realistic representation. Klee’s use of color gradients and contrasts resemble nocturnal blossoms rising against a dark backdrop, perhaps signifying the silent and organic growth that occurs unnoticed during the night. The elements seem to float in a dark space, with varying tones of reds, blues, and whites emerging from the blackness, which could imply the diminutive light that plant life might capture and reflect in the night. The arrangement of shapes gives a sense of vertical movement, as if the night plants are indeed growing before the viewer’s eyes. Klee’s technique, blending opaque and luminous segments of color, creates an atmospheric depth that invites contemplation.
