Digital Guide

Paul Klee

Tree Faces 1

Kleisterfarbe auf Papier auf Karton , 28 x 17,9 cm

Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern

Little birch grove

Birch trees are easy to recognize: They have white bark that is usually smooth, depending on the species. The outer layer of the bark is easy to peel off most kinds of birch trees. In the past, it was used as paper. The substance betulin is what makes it white. Birch trees grow in northern regions, where the sun is low in the winter. The white bark reflects the sun’s rays, regulating the temperature so the trunk doesn’t get as warm. Betulin is also water-repellent and antibacterial, so it helps ward off pests. In nature, beauty usually has a function. The texture of the peeling birch bark invites us to discover “tree faces”. Who do you recognize in the trunks of our birch trees?

About the Work

In 1937, Paul Klee painted two pictures called “Tree Faces.” Both are painted with thick brushstrokes of coloured paste. The lines are reminiscent of branching twigs or trees. In the centre, the lines multiply to reveal a somewhat distorted face. Klee was aware of how human perception works. In each visual “formation,” as he called it, we discover something representational. In 1924, he said: “In some circumstances one is delighted when a familiar face pops up, as if of its own accord, in a painting.”

Learn More: Functionality – Everything Has a Purpose

The beauty of nature never ceases to amaze us: colourful flowers, lush deciduous trees, ripe fruit, and much more. In nature, this beauty often arises to perform certain functions. Birch bark is white to reflect the sunlight. Flower blossoms are ablaze with various, often eye-catching colours to attract the insects that pollinate them. Attracting, warning, and repelling are some of the most common functions in the plant and animal kingdoms. They can result in stunning colours and shapes – like the tail of a peacock or the blossom of a sunflower.