b'TheCryofPainfromtheBeleagueredStratosphere(fig.15).Aproboscis-shaped,malevolentNosoliteinConspiracy(fig.16)andDefenceAgainstNosolites(fig.17).Otherthaninitsmalevolentincarnation,thepetalformoftenactsasakindofshell,oradynamiccounterpointtostable,protectivewomb-orseed-likeshapes,asinLiberatedSoul(fig.18),SphericalMeteorite(fig.19)andTowardstheLight(fig.20).Theartistusesgouacheinmostoftheextantworks.Sheablybalanceslineardescription,fieldsofcolourandgraphichatching.Theoverallresultisoneofvisualclarity,evenastheviewerisconfrontedwithvisionaryformsthatoftenvergeonabstractionandwhoseiconographycomesnotfrommundaneexperience,butunconsciousdepths.Twoexquisitepencildrawings,titledSunMountains(Sonnenbergen)(figs.21,22)revealthefullsensitivityofKhlersmark-making.Atoncebold,freeandprecise,theseserpentineabstractionsshareanaffinity(thereisnodirectinfluence)withsomeofthefinal,tinydrawingsmadebyanothergreatGermanvisionaryartist,FranzMarcinhissketchbooksinthefinalweeksbeforehewaskilledin1916attheBattleofVerdun.ColinRhodesMarch20215'