Have you already heard of the Bernese painter Paul Klee? I will tell you a little about his impressive story and if you are in Bern, do not miss out on a visit to Zentrum Paul Klee!

I’ll write this article in English with some sentences in Swiss German. Like this you can practice your vocabulary at the same time as learning something about an influential artist.

About Paul Klee’s life

Paul Klee was born in Bern in 1879. (Swiss German: Dr Poul Klee isch acht-zäh-nüne-sibezg z Bärn uf d Wäut cho.)

He was one of the most significant painters of the classic modern art of the 20th century. (Swiss German: Är isch eine vode bedütendschte Maler vor Klassische Moderne vom zwänzigschte Jahrhundert gsi.)

He created more than 2’000 paintings. (Swiss German: Är het meh aus zwöituusig Biuder gmaut.)

His travel to Tunisia in 1914 inspired him for his paintings and helped him on his road to success. (Swiss German: Sini Reis nach Tunesie nünzähhundertvierzäh het ihn für sini Biuder inschpiriert u het ihm zum Durchbruch verhoufe.)

He was a teacher at the “Bauhaus” art school in Weimar and Dessau for several years. (Swiss German: Är het mehreri Jahr ar “Bouhuus” Kunschtschueu z Weimar u Dessau aus Lehrer ungerrichtet.)

Together with his wife, he lived in Munich and Bern. (Swiss German: Zäme mit sire Frou het är z Münche u z Bärn gläbt.)

He was also a friend and at the same time, rival with Wassily Kandinsky. (Swiss German: Är isch o ä Fründ und gliichzytig Feind vom Wassily Kandinsky gsi.)

In Bern, the Zentrum Paul Klee was established, where some of his works of art are exhibited. (Swiss German: Z Bärn isch z Zäntrum Paul Klee eröffnet worde, wo teu vo sine Wärch usgschteut wärde.)

Key Swiss German vocabulary:

• To be born – uf d Wäut cho (actual translations: to have come to this world)
• a painter – ä Maler
• 2’000 – zwöituusig
• a painting – es Biud
• several years – mehreri Jahr
• a year – es Jahr
• together – zäme
• a friend – ä Fründ

The “Niesen” – my favourite painting of Paul Klee

Let me tell you a bit about my favourite painting of Paul Klee, even though it’s hard to pick just one. The painting that I like the most is called “Niesen – Egyptian night”. It’s the cover image of this article.

This painting was once stolen from the museum of art in Bern and reappeared 25 years later in Basel. Paul Klee painted it in 1915, shortly after his travel to Tunisia. It’s inspired by the mountain Niesen in the Bernese Oberland and the Egyptian pyramids. In the background you can see stars and the moon in the sky. In front of the mountain/pyramid, there are colorful squares and rectangles which could be trees, bushes or other mountains or hills.

Where to go to see some of Paul Klee’s work?

As already mentioned, when you are in Bern, go to visit the Zentrum Paul Klee where they exhibit his paintings and drawings. They also have a very nice shop where you can buy posters and books. They offer workshops for children and adults. The museum is located a bit outside of the city center but you can get there easily by bus or car.

You can find a variety of books about Paul Klee’s life and prints of paintings of him also here. Before visiting the Zentrum Paul Klee, I didn’t know much about this artist, I just heard his name a lot. Having seen some of his paintings in the gallery and books, I started realizing how beautiful his style is. I hope I could also inspire you to want to see more of this incredible artist!