Chinese porcelain, 1923, Collection Mr. and Mrs. Werner Paul Klee (1879-1940)

The composition presents a densely layered arrangement of fragmented forms against a backdrop of contrasting colors. The background is dominated by a vibrant red-orange hue that bleeds into areas of blue and green, creating a sense of visual instability and depth. This chromatic tension immediately establishes an atmosphere of complexity and potential unease.
Several abstracted figures are superimposed upon this field. They appear to be constructed from simplified geometric shapes – circles, triangles, rectangles – with sharp angles and fractured planes that recall Cubist principles. The artist has employed a limited palette within these forms, primarily utilizing shades of black, white, and red, which further emphasizes the starkness and angularity of the figures.
The arrangement is not easily decipherable as a narrative scene. Instead, it seems to prioritize formal elements – line, shape, color – over representational accuracy. The overlapping and interpenetration of these forms suggest a sense of simultaneity or multiple perspectives collapsing into a single plane. A prominent central element, resembling a stylized head with an embedded cross-like motif, draws the eye but offers no clear symbolic meaning. Other figures are similarly enigmatic; one appears to have avian features, while another is rendered as a mask-like visage.
The texture of the surface contributes significantly to the overall effect. The paint application seems rough and uneven, suggesting a deliberate rejection of smooth surfaces and traditional techniques. This textural quality adds a tactile dimension to the work, inviting closer inspection and emphasizing the materiality of the medium. A sense of ritual or ceremony is subtly evoked by the arrangement of figures, although any specific meaning remains elusive. The overall impression is one of fragmented identity, cultural collision, or perhaps an exploration of archetypal symbols stripped of their conventional significance.