Abstract

Paul Klee taught a class in elemental design theory at the Bauhaus throughout the 1920s. He was a product of neo-romantic and expressionist worldviews that sought a unity of systems and a synthesis of the arts. This was reflected in his pedagogy, which incorporated both practical and scientific elements with psychological and esoteric aspects. This was, in many ways, in keeping with the foundational mission of the school, but because of the later Bauhaus focus on practical design and industrial application, his teaching has generally been perceived to be at odds with the School’s raison d’être. Though he was a painter by vocation, this paper argues that Klee’s views actually had much to offer all Bauhaus students, and that his attempts to impart a synthesis of scientific and emotional/psychological knowledge is relevant for learners in art, design and architecture today.