Provenance

With Curt Valentin, Buchholz Gallery, New York, 1937-1938 [1]; sold to Louise and Walter C. Arensberg, Los Angeles, May 25, 1938 [2]; gift to PMA, 1950. 1. According to Dr. Christian Rümelin of the Paul-Klee-Stiftung, Kunstmuseum Bern (letter in curatorial file), the painting was shown with the exhibition of the Hugo Borst collection in Stuttgart in 1931; however, it is uncertain whether Borst owned it or if it was lent by Klee or a dealer. It does not appear in the 1931 Haus "Sonnenhalde" (Stuttgart) exhibition of the Borst collection, nor is it recorded in the 1970 publication on the collection entitled Die Sammlung Hugo Borst in Stuttgart. It was apparently in Klee's possession in 1937 when it was mentioned in a letter or list to Curt Valentin; again, it is unclear if Klee recalled it from a loan, bought it back, or received it in exchange at this time. 2. Receipt from the Buchholz Gallery dated May 25, 1938 in PMA Arensberg Archives. Valentin wrote to the Arensbergs on March 30, 1938, sending them the catalog of his current Klee exhibition with photographs. From these the Arensbergs chose "Animal Terror."