The Golden Fish & The Goldfish
Paul Klee entitled this painting The Golden Fish. But it’s often called The Goldfish by viewers and even art historians. I’m not a fan of this practice. Words matter. There’s a big difference between the two entities. Klee’s fish here is nothing like an actual goldfish. The Golden fish has a sleek, slender figure.He slides through the navy waters with cool elegance. Most goldfish are rounder. All are flirtier. Frisky fins are prominent goldfish features. Klee’s golden fish has afterthought, barely-there fins. His portrait focuses on its long body. Also, this fish exemplifies deep, serious thoughts. There’s a stillness in the way The Golden Fish floats in the center. No flirting allowed in its midst. That may be why the rounder red fish flee the painting’s serene territory. Their kittenish ways don’t belong.
The Golden Fish glows while its lesser counterparts wear smudgy and matte fins. They also lack distinctive features and are even eyeless. But our golden hero’s eye creates a swirling pink focal point. Its body works like a lamp, brightening the dark seawater. This eye indicates its visionary stature. The fish lights our way as a beacon. The Golden Fish symbolizes leadership. It stands prominent and central among many minions.
The central part of the work features a piece of cotton fabric
This remarkable painting technique isn’t the only fascinating element of this painting. The central part also features an uncommon element.
If you look closely, you can see that there is a square piece of cotton known as “a “muslin” attached to it. This was glued on the panel by Paul Klee.
This was partially inspired by the collages produced by Dada artists but also had a deeper meaning.
There’s a piece of string attached to it, or at least that’s how it looks like, which appears to unveil the entire scene. It’s an extraordinary feature that is pretty rare in the world of art, that’s for sure.
Detail of the muslin in the center / Wiki Commons
It was completed at a time when Klee was an art teacher
Paul Klee was born in Münchenbuchsee, a small town in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. He was reluctantly allowed to study art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich in 1898.
Munich was one of the major cultural centers in Europe at the time and many famous artists studied here, including Franz Marc and Wassily Kandinsky.
His career was abrupted by the outbreak of World War I and he became a soldier during this tragic event. Unlike Marc, he came out unharmed and continued to focus on his art afterward.
After his first commercial success in 1920, he became a teacher at the Bauhaus School, a position he held between 1921 and 1931.
Paul Klee completed this painting titled Fish Magic in 1925, a time when he was a renowned art educator.
Paul Klee / Wiki Commons
Paul Klee used a remarkable technique to produce this painting
The Swiss artist wrote several books explaining the color theory. These are considered to be some of the most important books related to modern art ever written.
Especially his work “Writings on Form and Design Theory” or “Schriften zur Form und Gestaltungslehre” is held in extremely high regard.
To give some reference as to how high, it has been compared to be just as important to modern art as Leonardo da Vinci’s “A Treatise on Painting” was to artists from the Renaissance.
He experimented extensively and this was also the case with this painting because it was created using a very uncommon technique.
He first painted the canvas full of colors and then completely covered it with a thick layer of black paint. He then carefully scratched away the black paint to uncover the colorful figures.
Detail of the painting technique / Wiki Commons
Where is the painting located today?
By the late 1930s, Walter and Louise Arensberg were in urgent need to find a suitable location to store the immense collection of art they had amassed.
What’s remarkable is that this wasn’t as easy as it initially appeared to be. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art refused to house the collection in 1939.
After negotiating with numerous museums, they eventually donated their entire collection, including Fish Magic, to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
If you want to admire this magical painting by Paul Klee, then you can do so in Gallery 288 on the second floor of the Brodsky Gallery in this popular museum in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Museum of Art / Wiki Commons
The Golden Fish – FAQs
What kind of painting is Paul Klee’s The Golden Fish?
This masterpiece fits into a few categories. It’s a solid Expressionist example as well as Modernist. Expressionism refers to a style of painting. It’s about conveying feelings through artwork. Modernism is about when the work was made rather than how. Some in the art world also say it’s a significant animal painting. That’s because Klee gave The Golden Fish majestic qualities beyond those of an ordinary fish. He portrays it as more than a mere animal.
What is the painter Paul Klee famous for?
Klee first made art world headlines when he shifted into abstract painting in 1914. Art critics buzzed about his distinctive style shifts. Then in 1917 Klee earned even wider exposure and commercial success. That was thanks to his three year art-dealer contract with Hans Goltz. His painting style changed but Klee never left the spotlight. He remained an eminent painter and taught at the top German art schools. Sadly, the Nazis fired him in 1933. So, he fled to Switzerland. That trauma inspired Klee’s work. He thus created 500 paintings in one wretched year.
What techniques did Paul Klee use?
Klee used many techniques. He loved to experiment and even play with painting. For example, he mixed mediums in unexpected ways. In The Golden Fish, Klee combined watercolor and oil paint. That’s a complicated endeavor for any artist. After all, oil and water don’t blend. Klee also painted this on paper. That’s an unusual base for oil painting. But it’s one of the reasons this painting has an eerie underwater quality.
Where can I see Paul Klee’s painting The Golden Fish in person?
Hamburger Kunsthalle houses The Golden Fish. One of the largest museums in Germany, Kunsthalle maintains an app as well as a fantastic website. Their collection’s packed with masterpieces. This museum stands out because they make every visit fun. Hamburger Kunsthalle engages visitors with cool activities. No matter how you visit – in person, on the app, or via the site, it’s entertaining.
