The theme of balance was an important one in Klee’s art, and it was a subject which he also emphasised to his students during his time as a teacher at the Bauhaus from 1921-31. Several of his works feature a tightrope walker, and in a lecture of 1921 Klee stated; ‘The tightrope walker with his pole (is a) “symbol of the balance of forces.” He holds the forces of gravity in balance (weight and counterweight). He is a pair of scales.’ The tightrope walker in this print is balanced on a structure of horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines which looks precarious but perfectly balanced.