Paul Klee and the Decorative in Modern Art

"One of the goals of modernism was the representation of the essence of art, or pure form. In this study, Jenny Anger examines Paul Klee's attitude toward and use of the decorative. She shows that the decorative, including its gendered associations, significantly informed Klee's art production, his exhibiting strategies, his critical response, and the discursive construction of his work for public consumption. She also compares his work with that of another major modernist, Henri Matisse, to confirm the critical role of the decorative in modernism. Finally, Anger explores the relevance of the decorative for contemporary, and especially women, artists."--BOOK JACKET.