“We want to build the Paul Klee museum in Bern. But why here? Why not in Munich, or Weimar, or Dessau? Why here in Bern, where Paul Klee re-emigrated after the National Socialists had released him from Dessau in 1933, and never received Swiss citizenship before he died in 1940, although he had applied for it? So why in Bern?”

This was the question Dr Klaus Baumgartner, the Mayor of Bern, asked the media in September 1997. Here are some of the answers he gave:

“Paul Klee died in Sant’ Agnese Hospital in Locarno-Muralto on 29 June 1940. The Swiss authorities had not yet got around to considering his application for citizenship, which he made in 1939. So let me repeat: Bern owes something to Paul Klee and his family.”

“The Paul-Klee-Stiftung [Paul Klee Foundation] was founded here in 1952. Its assets are held at the Art Museum, which looks after them. For a long time now, Bern has been a centre of research into Klee, and care for Klee.”

“The generosity of Livia and Alexander Klee: as far back as 1993, they indicated they would make works by Paul Klee and his contemporaries – which they had inherited from Felix Klee – available if there was a museum in Bern to house them. Livia Klee donated her share of the works to the Canton and City of Bern in May 1997. The Governing Council and Local Council accepted the gift in deepest gratitude. We are well aware of the obligations this involves, and we honour them.”

“The people of Bern themselves like Paul Klee. Klee’s work is rooted here.”