With the Setting Sun, 1919, Coll.Felix Klee, Bern Paul Klee (1879-1940)

The composition presents a fragmented landscape rendered in a palette dominated by greens, blues, browns, and punctuated with vibrant reds. The artist has eschewed traditional perspective, opting instead for a flattened pictorial space where forms overlap and intersect without clear spatial relationships. A large, circular form, intensely red, commands attention at the center of the canvas, partially obscured by other shapes.
Several architectural elements are discernible. A structure resembling a tower or building with a pointed roof is positioned on the left side, its facade marked by small rectangular windows. This element appears to be receding into the background, though the lack of consistent perspective makes it difficult to ascertain depth. Other angular forms suggest additional buildings or structures, their shapes simplified and abstracted.
The overall effect is one of disquiet and ambiguity. The sharp angles and abrupt transitions between colors create a sense of tension. The red circle, while visually arresting, also feels isolated and potentially ominous within the surrounding composition. It could be interpreted as symbolic – perhaps representing a setting sun (as suggested by the title), but its placement and intensity lend it an unsettling quality.
The muted background tones contribute to a feeling of melancholy or resignation. There is no clear horizon line; instead, the sky and ground seem to merge into one another, further blurring any sense of spatial coherence. The artist’s use of color and form suggests a psychological landscape rather than a literal depiction of nature. It evokes a mood of introspection and perhaps even anxiety, hinting at underlying emotional turmoil or societal upheaval.

The paintings subtexts likely revolve around themes of displacement, loss, and the fragility of human structures in the face of larger forces. The fragmented forms could represent the breakdown of traditional values or social order.