Twittering Machine
Paul Klee · 1922
Why it's great
Four little birds perch on a wire attached to a crank, and they seem to sing as the handle turns. Paul Klee painted this strange machine in 1922. It might be a joke about how machines can imitate nature, or a bit scary. It hangs in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and kids often love it.
👀 Look closer!
How many birds are on the wire? What do you think would happen if you turned the crank?
Where to see it
📍 Location not recordedWe couldn't confirm where it hangs today. Museums sometimes move or lend paintings, so check the museum's website before you travel.
Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Paul Klee was born near Bern, Switzerland, to a musical family and was also a talented violinist. He taught at the Bauhaus, a famous art school in Germany, and later fled the Nazis to Switzerland. His playful, imaginative paintings use lines, colors and symbols as if they were music. He died in Switzerland in 1940.
