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Exhibition

Paul Klee

Social Creatures
March 7–November 8, 2009

With his early line drawings of distorted, exaggerated, or fantastic characters, Paul Klee laid the groundwork for generations of artists creating figures that traffic in social stereotype. In his practice we can find the foundation for the modern language of comics and political cartoons, as his works walk a line between humor and scathing social critique. This exhibition brings together several extraordinary, intimate works by Klee, along with other pieces from the SFMOMA collection that help to elucidate his influence.

Paul Klee, Stachel, der Clown (Prickle, the Clown), 1931; collection SFMOMA, gift of the Djerassi Art Trust; 2009 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst Bonn, Germany