plate no. 1944
Cat and Bird
Paul Klee, 1928
recreation guide
Paul Klee’s 1928 oil painting 'Cat and Bird' is a distinctive example of his mature style, characterized by a 'suggestive simplified sign language' developed after his 1914 trip to Tunis and his tenure at the Bauhaus (Source 1). The composition is dominated by the wide, stylized face of a cat, which occupies the majority of the format, while a small bird appears on the forehead, interpreted as a dream or internal thought rather than a physical perch (Source 1). The work exemplifies Klee’s philosophy of 'pure cultivation of means,' where simple lines, shapes, and colors are allowed to work for themselves to make 'hidden visions visible' (Source 1). The aesthetic relies on geometric reduction—using pointed ovals for eyes and triangles for features—reminiscent of children’s drawings, which Klee viewed as sources of creativity (Source 1).
estimated time
20-30 hours over 5-7 sessions
materials
4 items
steps
7 in sequence
materials
| item | purpose | modern equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Oil paints | Primary medium for the painting | — |
| Canvas | Support surface | — |
| Linseed oil or oil of copavia | Medium for glazing and scumbling, consistent with traditional oil painting practices referenced in technique guides | Alkyd medium or traditional linseed oil |
| Graphite or charcoal | Underdrawing for simple lines and shapes | — |
preparation
surface prep
Prepare a standard oil-primed canvas. While specific ground preparation for this exact painting is not detailed in the sources, Klee’s work from this period often involved a prepared surface that allowed for the layering of transparent and semi-opaque colors. Ensure the surface is smooth enough to support the 'simple strokes and lines' characteristic of his drawing style (Source 1).
underdrawing
Begin with a light underdrawing using simple, reduced lines. Klee used 'simple strokes and lines... reminiscent of children's drawings' to define forms (Source 1). Use geometric primitives: pointed ovals for the eyes, triangles for the nose, ears, and mouth (Source 1). The bird should be drawn with a 'wavy reduced line' similar to the cat’s eye area (Source 1). Do not over-render; the goal is to establish the 'sign language' of the forms.
underpainting
Consider a monochrome underpainting (grisaille) to establish values before applying color. While not explicitly stated for this specific work, traditional oil painting techniques involve creating a grisaille to 'mentally extract' colors and translate forms, which aligns with Klee’s methodical approach to color and form (Source 6). This allows the subsequent glazes to interact with the underlying structure.
color palette
Muted Pink to Light Brown
Titanium White, Cadmium Red Light, Yellow Ochre, diluted with medium
General cat face and body areas, reflecting the 'warm color scheme' corresponding to warmth-loving domestic cats (Source 1)
Bluish, Green, and Violet
Ultramarine Blue, Viridian, Dioxazine Purple, mixed with white or complements to mute
Background and shadow areas, providing contrast to the warm tones (Source 1)
Bright Red
Pure Cadmium Red or Alizarin Crimson
The tip of the nose, shaped like a heart to express 'loving desire' (Source 1)
Dark Celestial Tone
Burnt Umber, Ivory Black, or deep Violet
The dark celestial body at the top of the picture, a frequent motif in Klee’s work (Source 1)
composition
The composition is dominated by the cat’s face, which 'overwhelmingly dominates the format' (Source 1). The bird plays a 'minor role' and is positioned on the forehead, meant to be 'inside the cat's head' as a dream of prey (Source 1). A dark celestial body appears at the top, a motif Klee used frequently to represent his view of the world as a 'cosmic planetarium' (Source 1). The arrangement relies on the 'organization of an artwork' where elements relate to the whole, with the cat as the undisputed main character (Source 1, Source 4).
step by step
underdrawing→underpainting→first pass→refining→finishing
underdrawing
step 01
Sketch the large, wide face of the cat using simple geometric shapes: pointed ovals for eyes with vertical pupils, and triangles for the nose, ears, and mouth.
Tip — Keep lines simple and reminiscent of children's drawings to capture the 'source of creativity' Klee valued (Source 1).
Geometric reduction
step 02
Add the small bird on the forehead using a wavy, reduced line, similar to the eye area of the cat.
Tip — Ensure the bird appears integrated into the cat's head space, suggesting it is a dream or internal thought (Source 1).
Linear simplification
underpainting
step 03
Apply a monochrome underpainting to establish the value structure of the cat’s face and the background.
Tip — This prepares the surface for glazing, allowing colors to be layered transparently (Source 6).
Grisaille
first pass
step 04
Apply muted warm colors (pink to light brown) to the cat’s face, using glazing techniques to build up tone.
Tip — Use a transparent coat of color to allow the underlying drawing to show through, maintaining the 'pure cultivation of means' (Source 1, Source 6).
Glazing
refining
step 05
Introduce bluish, green, and violet areas in the background and shadows to create a harmonious contrast with the warm cat tones.
Tip — Ensure the colors remain muted to match the painting’s overall subdued palette (Source 1).
Color harmony
finishing
step 06
Paint the tip of the nose in bright red, shaped like a heart.
Tip — This bright spot should stand out against the muted tones, expressing 'loving desire' (Source 1).
Symbolic accent
step 07
Add the dark celestial body at the top of the picture.
Tip — This element connects the work to Klee’s broader cosmic symbolism (Source 1).
Motif integration
critical techniques
Glazing
Applying transparent coats of color over a dry underpainting to build depth and luminosity without obscuring the underlying line work. This aligns with traditional oil painting methods and Klee’s desire for colors to 'work for themselves' (Source 6, Source 1).
Geometric Simplification
Reducing complex forms to simple shapes (ovals, triangles) and lines, reminiscent of children's drawings, to convey spiritual truths and 'hidden visions' (Source 1).
common pitfalls
- →Over-rendering the details: Klee’s style relies on 'simple strokes and lines'; excessive detail will obscure the 'sign language' and 'pure cultivation of means' (Source 1).
- →Using overly saturated colors: The palette is described as 'muted'; avoid bright, high-chroma colors except for the specific red nose accent (Source 1).
- →Misinterpreting the bird’s position: The bird is not physically perched but is 'inside the cat's head' as a dream; ensure the composition reflects this internal relationship (Source 1).
what the sources don't tell us
Where the corpus is silent, we say so rather than guess. These are the gaps a complete recreation guide would normally cover that our source passages don't.
- ·Specific brush types or sizes used by Klee for this painting are not detailed in the sources.
- ·The exact ratio of oil to pigment for the glazes is not specified, though traditional methods suggest using oil of copavia or linseed oil (Source 6).
- ·The precise dimensions of the canvas are not provided in the source passages.
grounded in
The technical procedure in this guide traces to the following classical art-instruction texts.
The Practice of Oil Painting↗
- COLOURING A MONOCHROME — applied to Techniques of glazing and scumbling over a grisaille underpainting (Source 6)
cross-referenced from
Named facts about this artwork and artist were checked against these reference pages.
Wikipedia: Cat and Bird↗
- History and description — applied to Composition, color scheme, symbolic meaning of the bird and nose, and geometric style (Source 1)
Wikipedia: Composition (visual arts)↗
- Composition (visual arts) — applied to General principles of visual organization and element relationships (Source 4)
Read more about the corpus on the sources page and how the guides are built on the methods page.
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