Klee and Arbus at Met Breuer

John and I were curious to see what the Metropolitan Museum of Art would do with it's new branch, formerly the Whitney Museum of American Art, now called Met Breuer.

The building was designed by Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer, so it was fun to see a show of works by former Bauhaus teacher, Paul Klee.

The exhibition features 70 works spanning Klee's entire career. Let's have a look.

Many of the works are small and would work very nicely in a domestic setting (i.e. our house).

I was drawn to this lovely, small watercolour, Untitled, 1914.

and to this equally lovely Garden in St. Germain, the European Quarter Near Tunis, 1914. Both works are watercolour on paper mounted on cardboard.

Colourful Architecture, 1917. Gouache on paper mounted on cardboard.

Falling Bird, 1919. Watercolour, transferred printing ink and ink on paper, bordered with ink, mounted on cardboard.

The Man Under the Pear Tree, 1921. Watercolour and transferred printing ink on paper, bordered with metallic foil, mounted on cardboard.

Abstract Trio, 1923. Watercolour and transferred printing ink on paper, bordered with gouache and ink, mounted on cardboard.

Oriental Pleasure Garden, 1925. Oil on cardboard.

Still Life, 1927. Oil on gypsum construction. It is amazing how Klee can make his works seem to glow.

Also at Met Breuer now is an exhibition of early, rarely seen, Diane Arbus photographs. They date from the beginning of her career, and are memorable, striking works, of great interest.

There has been some criticism of the installation but we found it effective and evocative. It reminded us of the pillars in the subway below Grand Central Station.

If you are interested in street photography, try to see Diane Arbus: in the beginning. It is full of surprises and remarkably fresh.