Angelus Novus

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Angelus Novus
Angelus Novus

Angelus Novus is a watercolour by Paul Klee created in 1920.

Walter Benjamin, who owned the painting for many years, saw it as depicting "the angel of history. His face is turned towards the past. Where we perceive a chain of events, he sees one single catastrophe which keeps piling wreckage upon wreckage."[1]

Otto Karl Werckmeister has commented that Benjamin's interpretation of the angel has led to it becoming "an icon of the left" [2]

The name and concept of the angel has inspired works by other artists and musicians.[3][4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Avant-garde / Modernism / Postmodernism
  2. ^ werckmeister
  3. ^ zing6 | reviews | angelus nova
  4. ^ Seventh Munchener Biennale - 4 - 19 May 2000. (JW)