Old Man Counting
1929
Paul Klee’s 1929 etching 'Old Man Counting' looks less like a traditional portrait and more like a musical score for a very quiet song. Created during his time teaching at the Bauhaus, the image features a fragile profile constructed entirely of horizontal lines that run straight through the man's head and the background. His hand is raised with fingers splayed, as if he’s tallying up the days or counting beats in a measure—fitting, since Klee was a talented violinist who often compared visual art to music. The relentless lines suggest that the man's thoughts and the world around him are woven from the same rhythmic fabric, blending reality and imagination in a style that pushes the boundaries of Expressionism.
- Technique
- Etching
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