War and death ruled Paul Klee’s life when he painted Death and Fire. Torn asunder by World War II and a seering case of scleroderma – Klee suffered while painting this. His pain shows. Even the skull’s sharp salute feels forced. The way Klee hems the gesture tight into the painting’s left corner creates a cold, robotic vibe. Speaking of subhuman, the hollow man on the far right also feels familiar. He’s like a scarecrow, but with less personality.

We know this stick figure symbolizes a person just as we know the line pointing to the skull represents a salute. But both are also empty. They are mere tokens in the face of death’s madness. After all, nothing can stand up to inevitable death and persevere. Death always wins in the end.

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