Regular and Large print chart included
PatternKeeper compatible
Insula Dulcamara by Paul Klee is one of Klee’s most mysterious and poetic late works, filled with symbolic forms, dreamlike markings, and playful abstraction. Created in 1938 during the final years of Klee’s life, the painting reflects both his artistic freedom and the deeply personal symbolism that defined his mature style.
The title translates roughly to “Sweet-Bitter Island,” combining the Latin words dulcis (sweet) and amara (bitter). The painting’s abstract landscape appears almost like a coded language or ancient map, with black linear forms drifting across softly textured fields of cream, pale green, blue, and warm earth tones. Faces, symbols, pathways, and creature-like figures emerge subtly from the composition, inviting viewers to interpret the imagery through imagination and emotion rather than logic.
Klee’s work often balanced innocence and sophistication, and Insula Dulcamara beautifully demonstrates that tension. The whimsical shapes resemble childlike drawings or primitive symbols, yet the composition carries a profound emotional depth. Painted while Klee was battling illness and political turmoil in Europe, the artwork reflects themes of memory, isolation, fantasy, and resilience.
Associated with movements such as Surrealism, Expressionism, and the Bauhaus, Klee developed a style entirely his own — one rooted in music, symbolism, color theory, and visual rhythm. In Insula Dulcamara, line becomes language and shape becomes emotion. The sparse composition and gentle color palette create a calm, contemplative atmosphere, while the unusual symbols and abstract forms keep the viewer constantly exploring the surface.
This museum-quality full-coverage cross-stitch pattern offers a striking and intellectually engaging stitching experience for lovers of modern art and abstract design. The simplified forms, elegant linework, and subtle textures translate beautifully into stitches, creating a unique finished piece that feels both contemporary and timeless.
- 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.
- Take a look at the floss list before buying a chart. Click on this link - FLOSS LIST - to view the floss list.
- 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:
360w x 176h stitches
Types of Stitches:
Full stitches only, no half or quarter stitches, no backstitching
Level of Difficulty:
Advanced
Sewn Design Size:
14 count: 25.71 x 12.57 inches - 653mm x 319mm
18 count: 20.00 x 9.78 inches - 508mm x 248mm
20 count: 18.00 x 8.80 inches - 457mm x 224mm
22 count: 16.36 x 8.00 inches - 416mm x 203mm
Fabric size necessary for design:
Add six inches to both length and width (3" on each side)
Number of floss colors in the design: 76 (DMC cotton floss) No blended colors.
