The artwork, “Love Song by the New Moon,” created by artist Paul Klee in 1939, is an exemplar of the Surrealist movement and falls into the genre of genre painting. This piece, crafted in a time notable for the tumult leading up to the Second World War, embodies elements of fantasy and the unconscious mind, as was characteristic of Surrealism. Klee’s artwork is marked by the use of abstract forms and symbols, which coalesce to evoke a sense of lyrical narrative befitting the title of the piece.
Upon examining the artwork, one is greeted by a rich tapestry of shapes and hues that seem to float on an earth-toned textured background. Dominant colors include blues, yellows, and greens, intertwined with black lines that delineate the forms which inhabit this dreamscape. The composition is asymmetric and bears no direct reference to the physical world, which invites viewers to interpret the scene in light of their own imaginings. Central to the piece is a large, central figure that appears somewhat anthropomorphic, surrounded by abstract elements that could be read as celestial bodies, organic forms, or musical symbols, thus contributing to the overall enigmatic quality of the piece.
The presence of geometric and naturalistic elements simultaneously suggests a fusion of the mechanical and the organic, a theme often explored in Klee’s oeuvre. Despite the abstract nature of the artwork, there is an inferred narrative, no doubt influenced by the title, which suggests a serenade under the night sky. The ethereal quality of the artwork extends an invitation to the audience to delve into a visual melody crafted by the interplay of form and color.
