color heliogravure, heavyweight velin paper, 31 x 23 cm (plate imprint), framed in passe - partout 47 x 37 cm, numbered by hand in pencil 23/270, signed from plate under composition "Paul Klee", publisher's drystamp l. d.: letter K surrounded bythe words "EDITION LIMITED CERTIFIED ARTS USA EUROPE SINCE 1998". Attached original publisher's certificate issued and signed by Arte K confirming that the numbering of the limited edition iscorrect.
Klee created many paintings and drawings depicting cats, the most famous of whichistheone shown here.The small bird on the cat's forehead is actuallysupposed to be in itshead;one canassumethat it is dreamingof a potential prey. In the painting, the bird plays only a minor role; the undisputed main character is the cat, whose facepredominantly dominates the format Its facial expression is characterized byfearfulalertness,shown in its open eyes withvertical pupils typical ofcats, butalso calmness.
Klee's color scheme is subdued and warm in this painting, which suits the nature of heat-loving domestic cats. Only the tip of the nose is bright red, in the shape of a heart. The heart is meant toexpress a kind of "lovingdesire." Klee wasfond of cats andalsokept themin his home and his studio.
Above the bird is a kind of dark celestial body at the top of the painting, a motif that often appears in his paintings. The painter saw the world as a model of a cosmic planetarium,whose functionwas to show spiritual truths.
