The artwork “WI (In Memoriam)” by Paul Klee, created in 1938, is an expressionist portrait made using gouache and watercolor mediums. It embodies the aesthetic principles of the Expressionist movement, wherein the artist’s subjective perspective and emotional response to the world are emphasized in the depiction.
Upon examining the artwork, one is struck by the abstract composition that reconfigures the traditional notions of portraiture. The use of color is subdued yet decisive, with the artist applying gouache and watercolor to articulate forms that suggest a figure or an abstracted face, an interpretation that fits the genre classification. Klee’s lines and shapes interact in a rhythmic and organic manner, creating a dance of visual elements across the canvas. There is a sense of balance and harmony despite—or perhaps because of—the non-representational approach to the subject.
Klee’s adept handling of the gouache and watercolor results in a rich texture and depth that give the painting a tactile quality. This piece, with its non-traditional portrayal of a subject, invites viewers to contemplate the relationship between form, color, and the essence of the figure that it seeks to memorialize, encouraging an emotional and psychological engagement with the work.
