Regular and Large print chart included
PatternKeeper compatible
Cat and Bird by Paul Klee is one of Paul Klee’s most recognizable and psychologically intriguing works, blending whimsy, symbolism, and abstraction into a deceptively simple image. Painted in 1928, the artwork reflects Klee’s unique ability to combine childlike forms with sophisticated emotional and symbolic meaning.
At first glance, the painting presents the face of a cat rendered in warm golden tones with enormous pale green eyes dominating the composition. Resting on the cat’s forehead is a small pink bird — delicate, vulnerable, and impossible to ignore. The relationship between the two figures creates immediate tension: the bird appears not simply as prey, but as an obsession or thought inside the cat’s mind. Klee transforms a simple animal image into a visual metaphor for instinct, desire, and imagination.
The flattened shapes, soft textures, and simplified geometry reveal Klee’s connection to Surrealism, Expressionism, and Bauhaus experimentation, though his work always remained deeply personal and difficult to categorize. Rather than striving for realism, Klee explored inner emotion, symbolism, dreams, and subconscious thought through playful but carefully balanced compositions.
The painting’s muted earth tones are punctuated by subtle pinks, aquas, and reds, creating a warm yet slightly mysterious atmosphere. The oversized eyes give the cat an intense, hypnotic presence, while the tiny bird introduces both humor and psychological tension. This balance between innocence and predatory instinct is part of what has made the painting so enduringly fascinating.
Cat and Bird is an exceptional choice for stitchers who appreciate modern art, symbolic imagery, and unusual conversation-piece designs. Its bold shapes, expressive lines, and warm color palette translate beautifully into a museum-quality full-coverage cross-stitch project.
- This chart is available in two formats - regular and large print. Once you make your purchase you will have access to both.
- Available for immediate download in pdf format.
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- Advanced cross stitch instructions and a floss amount conversion chart are included in the pattern.
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This chart is a Digital Download. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is a free program, to read and print out the file. If you don't have Acrobat Reader CLICK HERE to download. After your purchase is complete you will receive an e-mail with instructions to download your file. You will also have access to the download file when you are logged into your Serenity Stitchworks account.
Design Size:
288w x 204h stitches
Types of Stitches:
Full stitches only, no half or quarter stitches, no backstitching
Level of Difficulty:
Advanced
Sewn Design Size:
14 count: 20.57 x 14.57 inches - 523mm x 370mm
18 count: 16.00 x 11.33 inches - 406mm x 288mm
20 count: 14.40 x 10.20 inches - 366mm x 259mm
22 count: 13.09 x 9.27 inches - 333mm x 236mm
Fabric size necessary for design:
Add six inches to both length and width (3" on each side)
Number of floss colors in the design: 79 (DMC cotton floss) No blended colors.
