It’s a very strange feeling when you discover that an artist you admire had the same disabling illness as you have, especially when it’s relatively rare, not to mention impossible to describe succinctly. Paul Klee — though it wasn’t diagnosed until ten years after his death in 1940 — had Scleroderma, an autoimmune condition that can be utterly debilitating. I have wanted to write about Scleroderma and its affect on my life and work for some time but I never thought I would be doing so with reference to Paul Klee!
In essence, Scleroderma in all its forms is a chronic circulatory and connective tissue disorder in which the body’s defences attack its own organs and tissues. The Raynaud’s & Scleroderma Association website describes it thus:
‘Scleroderma is an uncommon disease of the immune system, blood vessels and connective tissue. In this condition the skin, usually of the hands and feet, becomes stiff, tight and shiny. As a result of changes in these three areas, the body produces too much collagen. Collagen, which is the major protein of the connective tissue, binds the body together and is found in the skin, blood vessels, joints and internal organs, such as the kidneys, heart, lungs and bowel. There are several types of collagen and different forms are found in different parts of the body. They are produced by cells called fibroblasts. When fibroblasts produce too much collagen it results in fibrosis, i.e. thickening.
In addition to affecting the fingers, the fibrosis may spread to other areas and organs of the body. The arms, face, trunk and legs may be involved and movement of the limbs may become limited.’
Paul Klee was born into a musical family in Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland, in 1879. His talents were such that he could easily have pursued music instead of art but he found the musical milieu at that time ‘restrictive’ and was increasingly drawn to the world of art, even though his parents wanted him to follow a musical path. “I didn’t find the idea of going in for music creatively particularly attractive in view of the decline in the history of musical achievement.” (Wikipedia) He was a leading force in most of the prevailing movements such as Cubism, Expressionism and Surrealism, as is clear from even a cursory look at his work. He created a vast array of watercolours, etchings and paintings during his life.
I’d like to take up his story from 1931. Having taught at the Bauhaus for ten years he went on to teach at the Düsseldorf Academy. But everything came to an end in 1933 when a newspaper denounced him: ‘Then that great fellow Klee comes onto the scene, already famed as a Bauhaus teacher in Dessau. He tells everyone he’s a thoroughbred Arab, but he’s a typical Galician Jew.’ Wikipedia
His home was ransacked by the Gestapo and he was fired by the Düsseldorf Academy. He and his family fled to Germany the same year and returned to Bern in Switzerland.
While Paul Klee coped with the rarest and most severe form of Scleroderma, ‘diffuse systemic sclerosis (dss)’, I have ‘limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis’ (lcSSc). At the age of fourteen, I was diagnosed with the circulatory condition Raynaud’s Phenomenon, which in rare cases can be an indicator of a propensity to develop the far more complicated Scleroderma, as it was in my case. At twenty-one, soon after I had left drama school, the thrilling diagnosis was amended to C.R.E.S.T. Syndrome, as lcSSc was then known. Many of the symptoms are common to all forms.
Klee’s illness first became apparent — persistent bronchial catarrh — in 1935. He was constantly tired and that is one of the less painful things I have to contend with; a lack of energy has a serious affect on one’s life, especially if you’re in your twenties or thirties and expected to be as bright as a button. This is not so marked now that I’m in my late fifties!
Changes to the Klee’s skin and underlying tissue all over the body followed. Where he and I differ is that his hands were apparently unaffected. He had no problem painting and drawing. I, on the other hand (no pun intended!) have major problems with my fingers, which have become curled and distorted so that while I have always been able to touch-type, I can now only use two fingers on my left hand, three on my right, and my thumbs. This varies depending on swelling and infection, as well as the time of year.
Whatever else Klee might have endured previously, living in Germany in the late 1920s and early ’30s would have been terrifying and shows just how the body can be adversely affected. I have decades of experience to show the direct correlation between life events, my reactions to them, not to mention the cruel reactions of others, and the consequent changes to my entire body. In other words, both physical and emotional pressure exacerbates all types of Scleroderma.
Paul Klee and His Illness: Bowed But Not Broken by Suffering and Adversity
by Hans Suter
In the introduction to his book (above) about Paul Klee and Scleroderma, Hans Suter writes:
‘This star teaches bending’ is the telling title of a work on paper which Paul Klee completed in the year of his death. This brilliant artist lived the last few years of his life in Bern, but they were years which were overshadowed by a dark star. In 1935 Klee suffered a variety of setbacks and became seriously ill. Although he never recovered from this illness, he always maintained his love of life, facing his suffering with a trenchant ‘so what?’ But by 1940 he had to accept that there was no hope of a cure or any improvement in his health. The star had taught him to bend to the blows of fate.’
Klee’s grandson, Alexander Klee, who is now patron of The World Scleroderma Foundation, has this to say in the preface to Suter‘s book:
‘His later work, which was not only influenced by his illness, but which was done in defiance of that illness, is surely one of the most brilliant demonstrations of how suffering and sadness can be overcome through art and imagery, and in which, despite everything, irony can still shine through.’
The World Scleroderma Foundation writes:
‘Although human suffering is universal, not all of us are gifted with the creative talent to express such emotions; we are therefore grateful to Hans Suter for this splendid book in which we share this anguish through the eyes of a creative genius, Paul Klee. In one of his last pictures, ‘Tod und Feuer’ (Death and fire), one sees the tight, ashen face of the scleroderma sufferer facing his imminent demise.’
‘If only the enigma of death were not so ambiguous! No less so is the enigma of life, for one has to wonder what beauty and splendour can be found in the torments of recent times.’ Paul Klee, 1938
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Take care and keep laughing!
What an incredible post….and how remarkable that Klee and you are able to diffuse your medical condition through the power of art. I was particularly interested when you said how stressful situations make the condition worse…
You are an inspiration…showing what can be done under extremely difficult circumstances…and I admire that very much. Thank you. 🙂
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Thank you, Janet. It’s just a bugger that I’ve had a particularly stressful life! For some years adrenalin enabled me to cope with acting but in the end, without any control over employment, it was never enough to help me get through and that’s why I’ve been so blessed to find a constant source of comfort from digital art. Hope you’re enjoying a lovely evening!
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thank you for sharing your story as well as Paul Klee’s condition which at the time of such bigotry towards him must have been very much harder to endure.
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Indeed. The situation would have toppled me completely and I would probably not have survived beyond Kristallnacht from Scleroderma alone. Beyond that, I’d have become one of the many disabled people to die in one of the camps. Klee is an inspiration.
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i am sorry to read you suffer from this illness as i didn’t know specifically what it was. your post is both uplifting and informing of what life is like for those disabled by chronic illness, no matter it’s name. sometimes labels can be even more disabling and i suspect klee didn’t realize the whole of his illness as we do today. i avoid much of what there is to read online of mine!! on the other hand, it is good to have awareness of what IS going on! you are an inspiration and i love your work!! take care of youxxxx
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Bless you, Linda. If I see something about Scleroderma, I do tend to read it but not if I’m feeling despondent as it’s simply too depressing. Much thanks for the compliments; you’ll know, more than most, what that does for those of us who struggle!
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And I love your work too, as you know!
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sarah, the blessing of blogging is the meeting of hearts and minds who are on the same path. i am blessed to have met you and walk beside you. your offerings, whie i know you are often struggling, always amaze that much more for the knowing.
i tend NOT to read too much anymore but rather to do what i can with what i already know. that’s substantial enough for me! i think there is such thing as knowing too much as far as my mental health is concerned. 😉
xoxoxox
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I love the way you are always so positivie and sign your posts ‘keep laughing’ Sarah, obviously not always an easy thing to do but definitely an excellent aim to aspire to! Hope the sun is shining where you are! have a lovely evening 🙂
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Not always so positive in private life. The sun has been shining because we’ve moved to Crete, partly because of our health! I will be writing about that anon. Have a lovely French evening from your hillside. Jane!
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I realise indeed that everyone has a public and a private face, has to be so.. but I think your public face is delightfully positive and encouraging Sarah! ⭐ 🙂
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Reblogged this on Click And Color.
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Thank you for sharing both your personal struggle as well as Klee’s, with this rare illness. I also deal with a rare condition, so this strikes a particular chord with me.
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Oh, Priya, I’m very sad to hear that. It doesn’t surprise me as all my life I have accidentally surrounded myself with people who have rare conditions or major health problems of some description! Take care and much thanks for the re-blog.
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Reblogged this on S.O.U.L. S-P-A-C-E.
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“This star teaches bending.” What a beautifully put truth. We all have such stars.Thank you so much for sharing yours, and for not being broken by it. Your work and Klee’s testify to the power of art in helping us all survive the struggles of being human. It’s no accident you found each other. Art reaches across centuries and continents and lands where it should.
So happy to hear that you are in a sunnier clime these days. Keep those five fingers and thumbs clicking away! We need your art.
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Thank you, Gayle.
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A great post! 🙂 Many thanks for the sharing and insight! 🙂
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Hard to live with something so debilitating.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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Yes, but I get by with hugs and laughter! Huge hugs back to you. xxx
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Fabulous post as always Sarah. Although I’ve always admired Klee’s work I can’t recall reading much about his life before and nothing about his illness. Thanks so much and hope you feel strong to keep working. Your work brings pleasure to many people. ❤
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Bless you, Olga. Comments like yours make a world of difference to me being able to keep going. Much thanks. xx
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Paul Klee was one of the first artists I liked when I did art at school!
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I came to him quite late but once I did, I fell in love!
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I like the oft-quoted “drawing is taking a line for a walk” of his. But most of all I like his paintings!
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Reblogged this on mira prabhu and commented:
Me, Paul Klee, and Scleroderma…fascinating post about transmuting illness into creative genius…thank you Sarah Vernon!
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Thank you so much, Mira!
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Sarah, that was a truly interesting combination of information and artwork. Hugs!
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Bless your heart, Teagan. Hugs!
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What a fantastic and fascinating post, Sarah! Bless you and thank you for combining and sharing your stories.
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Dearest Juli, your continuing support of me and my work makes me very happy. Thank you. x
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What an interesting post!
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I’m glad you thought so. Thanks for visiting!
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Hi Sarah, I knew about Klee’s condition but didn’t know you had that in common with him. Thanks for your description not only of the condition but of its relation to artistic expression. You have my admiration for your perseverance and your long history of interesting posts and art.
All the best,
Jack
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Bless you, Jack. It could be worse!
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Thank you for this heartfelt post. A solace for you must be knowing that you and Paul Klee have a common bond. I mean that in a kind and glass-half-full way. You both worked through and dealt with a debilitating illness. Hats off to you! Your story is inspirational. Really. -Jennie-
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I understand! So many other people inspire me that it’s odd to think of my story inspiring others. Thanks, Jennie.
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Well, it does. Really. You are welcome.
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