THE ANGELS

First edition, first printing. Original yellow paper-covered boards with titles in black and grey to the spine and upper board, in dustwrapper. With reproductions of Paul Klee's colour and black and white work throughout. A fine copy, the binding square and tight, the spine tips very slightly bumped. The contents are clean throughout and without stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the lightly rubbed dustwrapper that has some slight creasing at the very edges and is otherwise without fading, loss or tears.

A catalogue of Paul Klee's work featuring angels, accompanied by essays on Klee's art and on angels in wider culture by various authors. Published in conjunction with three exhibitions: 'The Angels of Klee and Angels of Karl Valentin, Charlie Chaplin, Francesca Woodman, Joseph Beuys, Wim Wenders et al.', Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern, October 26, 2012 - January 20, 2013; ' The Angels of Paul Klee', Museum Folkwang, Essen, February 1 - April 20, 2013 and 'Klee's Angels', Hamburger Kunsthalle, April 26 - July 7, 2013. "Klee's angels are trapped in human form; they have weaknesses and blemishes, are forgetful and ugly, worried or playful - occasionally even satanic. To the artist, good and evil do not negate but creatively compliment one another. About eighty depictions of angels, most of them created during the final years of Klee's life, reflect both the fear of death and the physical fragility of the incurably ill, as well as the artist's sage wit, sense of humor, cheerfulness, and quiet manner. Besides biographical references and iconographic phrases, this publication sheds light on individual works, such as Angelus Novus, which inspired Walter Benjamin to develop his legendary concept of the 'Angel History'" [from the publisher's blurb].