Customer Reviews

Paul Klee: Painting Music (Pegasus Library)

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This beautifully illustrated and wonderfully informative monograph is devoted to the reasonable (and wholly accepted) thesis that Paul Klee's dedication to, and love for, musical forms informed his prolific life in art, specifically drawing and painting. Duchting has chosen illustrations that consistently reinforce his assertions. The commentary is smart, informed, and lively. Even if you dozed in Art History, this book is excellent. Duchting has done his homework, consulting Klee's own (published) diaries, notebooks, and sketchbooks, and the extensive writings of Klee friend and biographer Will Grohmann, and additional early biographers. In addition Duchting has spent a lot of time looking at the paintings themselves. Some of Klee's incredible lecture notes (which you must see to believe) from his years of teaching art are included, as are several quick drawings and works of artists who were associated with Klee.

This book has terrific production values. The paper is good,and the approximately 100 color reproductions are exquisite. Photographs of Klee, his wife Lily, and his studio. Page layout is a visual treat. It's really a gem of a book, right down to the lemon-yellow endpapers. There is a a short biography, pages of good endnotes, and a 'Selected Bibliography' (page 111).

If you have an interest in Klee and in particular his knowledge/love of music and how he tried to portray it through art, then this book is for you. Or even if you are looking for ways to portray music in your own artwork. For the money this book provides a wealth of information. The text is well written, avoids the "flowery" writing style that seems to abound in the world of art and its narratives. Originally written in German, the translator has done an excellent job. The quality of the book itself is excellent. It is liberally populated with colour and black & white images (the b/w images mainly reserved for pen and ink pieces). I think you would be very hard pushed to find a book on Klee offering better value for money than this one.

Like all the books in this series, this publication is great for its color reproductions and extremely concise summary of a specific aspect of Klee's oeuvre. Düchting's writing is approachable and straightforward. Though occasionally dry and not exactly dynamic in style, I recommend Marcel Franciscono's monograph for more in-depth information on the life and historical context of the artist.

This book is a very good introduction to the artistic work of Paul Klee. The author explains in easy and helpful manner how the music influenced the painting production of Klee. A carefully attention is given how Klee tried to reproduce musical concepts as poliphony and rhythm in his painting. The book is rich in good quality photos. The only lacks are the absence of a bibliography and Duechting doesn't tell any anectodes about Klee, because anectodes are very usefull to remember the works and the life of artists. I advice to read this book all people they are interesting in modern painting.

I was delighted to obtain a copy of "Paul Klee: Painting Music" through Amazon. This book is a specialty item with beautiful reproductions of Klee's works that show visual depictions of his musical thinking. The book provides inspiration for anyone who thinks, works or participates in the integration of the arts and artistic expression. It shows the direct link between Klee's visual genius and his gift as a performing musician--principle violinist in his string quartet.

this is a beautiful book. It is also interesting. But it lacks some intimacy with the artist and his emotions.