17 Astray, 1923, watercolor and India ink on paper moun Paul Klee (1879-1940)

The composition presents a fragmented scene rendered in watercolor and India ink on paper. A muted palette dominates – earth tones of brown and grey are layered with washes of reddish-orange that bleed into one another, creating a sense of atmospheric instability. The surface appears aged, with subtle discoloration and irregularities contributing to the overall feeling of fragility and decay.
Several distinct elements populate this space. In the lower left corner, a large numeral 17 is inscribed in a stark, dark font, immediately establishing a numerical or sequential context. Above it, a black top hat floats disembodied, suggesting a sense of formality stripped of its grounding. Further upward, we see what appear to be abstracted facial features – elongated eyes, a stylized nose resembling a blade, and an open mouth rendered as a curved shape. These elements are not arranged in a conventional portrait; instead, they are scattered across the plane, contributing to a disorienting effect. A dark oval hovers near the upper left corner, its placement seemingly arbitrary.
The right side of the work is dominated by two large, bold arrows pointing towards the viewer’s right. These directional elements introduce an immediate sense of movement and urgency, contrasting with the stillness of the other objects. The inscription IRR appears in a similar dark font to the numeral, positioned near the upper right corner, its meaning left open to interpretation – perhaps an abbreviation or a symbolic marker.
The arrangement of these components suggests a narrative that is deliberately obscured. The disembodied hat and fragmented facial features evoke a sense of loss, alienation, or perhaps even mockery of societal conventions. The arrows imply a forceful impetus, a direction being imposed upon the depicted figures or situation. The numeral 17 could signify a specific event, a sequence within a larger series, or simply an arbitrary marker.
The overall effect is one of unsettling ambiguity. The artist has created a visual field that resists easy interpretation, inviting contemplation on themes of displacement, fragmentation, and the precariousness of identity. The deliberate lack of context and the jarring juxtaposition of elements contribute to a pervasive sense of unease and disorientation.