Paul Klee

Actor's Mask

1924

Oil on canvas mounted on board

Not on view

Klee had a lifelong love of the theater. He brought that love into his paintings, like this one called Actor’s Mask. Take turns sharing what you notice about the mask. Now imagine you’re an actor wearing this mask in a play. What do you think your character might say or do?

Kids label from

2023

Provenance Research Project

This work is included in the Provenance Research Project, which investigates the ownership history of works in MoMA's collection.

On consignment from the artist to Rudolf Probst, Galerie Neue Kunst Fides, Dresden, 1928 [1]; on consignment from the artist to Galerie Alfred Flechtheim, Berlin, February 1928 [2]; on loan to The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1930 [3]; sold through J. B. Neumann, New York to Sidney Janis (1896-1989), New York, 1931 [4]; given to The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1967.

[1] Paul-Klee-Stiftung, Kunstmuseum Bern, eds. Paul Klee: catalogue raisonné. Bern: Benteli and New York: Thames and Hudson, vol. 4 (2000), no. 3624.
[2] Ibid. See Stefan Frey and Wolfgang Kersten, "Paul Klees geschäftliche Verbindung zur Galerie Alfred Flechtheim," Alfred Flechtheim: Sammler. Kunsthändler. Verleger, ed. by Hans Albert Peters, exh. cat. Kunstmuseum Düsseldorf, 1987, p. 79. Included in the exhibition Paul Klee, Galerie Alfred Flechtheim, Berlin, October 20-November 15, 1929 (no. 54: Schauspielermaske).
[3] ] Included in the exhibition Paul Klee, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, March 13-April 2, 1930 (no. 12). The catalogue notes on p. 13: "Unless otherwise indicated the paintings belong to the artist and are exhibited by arrangement with his representatives [Galerie Alfred Flechtheim, Berlin and J.B. Neumann, New York]."
[4] The Sidney and Harriet Janis Collection, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, January 17-March 4, 1968, p. 17.

Provenance research is a work in progress, and is frequently updated with new information. If you have any questions or information to provide about the listed works, please email [email protected] or write to:

Provenance Research Project
The Museum of Modern Art
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New York, NY 10019

Medium Oil on canvas mounted on board
Dimensions 14 1/2 x 13 3/8" (36.7 x 33.8 cm)
Credit The Sidney and Harriet Janis Collection
Object number 616.1967
Department Painting & Sculpture

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