1215. Auction ONLINE ONLY | Abstraction to Figuration. 70 Works from a Rhenish Collection
Günter Weseler was a German artist. He became known for his “breath objects”, which make up the main part of his work. With these “New Species”, as he called his objects, Weseler was one of the most important German avant-garde artists of the 1960s and 1970s. At the beginning of his artistic career, Weseler kept coming back to painting. At times he turned to the fantastic, he painted cubist staggered houses, approached organic associations in abstract images with spatula work. In 1964, Günter Weseler began to study the phenomenon of breathing. In 1966 he went on to "visual shaping of the rhythm of breathing" with breathing balloons inflated with compressed air, about two meters in size, from which the air escaped again, and finally to the mechanically controlled fur objects. He placed his faceless, breathing fur creatures in the most varied of life situations. Depending on location, place and situation, they can completely change their character.
Horst Antes was a German painter, graphic artist and sculptor, a pioneer of the new figurative painting in Germany.
After studying at the Karlsruhe Academy of Fine Arts from 1957 to 1959, Antes taught there himself and later became a professor there.
Antes became known for the Kopffüßler (head-foot) image, which has been a recurring theme in his paintings, sculptures and graphic works since the early 1960s. Antes' work is represented in several major collections in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and elsewhere in Germany.
Erwin Heerich was a German artist.
Heerich emphasized that for him, "cardboard, like polystyrene, had no specifically aesthetic or historical connotations, the materials are value-neutral to the largest possible extent." Furthermore, the artist was not primarily "concerned with the manifestation of an art object, but with making an idea material in terms of a specific problem: how space can be presented and formed."
Imi Knoebel (born Klaus Wolf Knoebel) is a German artist. Knoebel is known for his minimalist, abstract painting and sculpture. The "Messerschnitt" or "knife cuts," are a recurring technique he employs, along with his regular use of the primary colors, red, yellow and blue. Knoebel lives and works in Düsseldorf.
Arnulf Rainer is an Austrian artist who painted in the genre of informal abstract art.
From his early works the artist was inspired by the ideas of Surrealism. He also created works of art where he applied paint over photographs and works of other artists.
In the 1950s, Rainer painted a series of blindfold paintings in the technique of Surrealist automatism. In 1978 he received the Austrian Grand National Prize. Rainer has exhibited in New York, London, Vienna, Paris, Berlin and Munich. His works are in the collections of the Albertina, the Pompidou Center, the Stedelijk Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art.
Friedrich Werthmann was a German artist and sculptor, one of the pioneers of Düsseldorf's legendary reputation as the creative centre of post-war Germany and a member of Gruppe 53, from which the ZERO artists' association later emerged.
Friedrich Werthmann's steel sculptures associated with Tachisme and Informel can be found in famous museums and private collections, as well as in prominent public places in many European cities.
Karl Otto Götz was a German artist, filmmaker, draughtsman, printmaker, writer and professor of art at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. He was one of the oldest living and active artists older than 100 years of age and is best remembered for his explosive and complex abstract forms. His powerful, surrealist-inspired works earned him international recognition in exhibitions like documenta II in 1959. Götz never confined himself to one specific style or artistic field. He also explored generated abstract forms through television art. Götz is one of the most important members of the German Art Informel movement.
Karl Otto Götz was a German artist, filmmaker, draughtsman, printmaker, writer and professor of art at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. He was one of the oldest living and active artists older than 100 years of age and is best remembered for his explosive and complex abstract forms. His powerful, surrealist-inspired works earned him international recognition in exhibitions like documenta II in 1959. Götz never confined himself to one specific style or artistic field. He also explored generated abstract forms through television art. Götz is one of the most important members of the German Art Informel movement.
Joan Miró, a celebrated Spanish artist, was a master in painting, sculpture, and ceramics, renowned for his unique style that blurred the lines between Surrealism, Fauvism, and Expressionism. Born in Barcelona to a family of a goldsmith and a watchmaker, Miró grew up immersed in the rich cultural heritage of the Barri Gòtic neighborhood. His artistic journey began with drawing classes at the age of seven and continued at the prestigious La Llotja art academy. Despite an initial venture into the business world, Miró's passion for art prevailed, leading him to abandon his clerical career after a nervous breakdown.
Miró's work is noted for its exploration of the subconscious, often depicting a childlike perspective. This approach was both a critique of traditional painting methods and a means of expressing Catalan pride. His art, challenging to categorize, often featured symbolic elements and nationalistic qualities. One of his notable early works, "The Farm," reflects a transition to a more individual style, blending elements of his Catalan roots with broader artistic influences. This piece, later purchased by Ernest Hemingway, encapsulated the essence of Spain in its imagery.
In Paris, Miró joined the Surrealist movement in 1924, where his work began to reflect the influence of automatism, emphasizing spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation. He experimented with various mediums, including painting-poetry and collage, and even ventured into set and costume design for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.
During World War II, Miró remained in Spain, and his work from this period, including the 22 Constellations series, reflected an interest in the night, music, and stars. His forms became increasingly abstracted, and he experimented with various techniques, often incorporating primary colors and evocative titles.
Miró's career spanned several decades, during which he continually evolved his style and explored new mediums. His contributions to art were recognized with numerous awards and retrospectives, including a major career retrospective at MoMA in 1941 and the Spanish Gold Medal for Fine Arts in 1980. Among his last major works was a tapestry for the World Trade Center in New York City, created in 1974.
For art collectors and enthusiasts, Joan Miró remains a figure of immense interest, not only for his distinct style and contributions to Surrealism but also for his ability to blend poetic imagery with political commentary. To stay updated on new product sales and auction events related to Joan Miró, sign up for our updates and immerse yourself in the world of this extraordinary artist.
Sigmar Polke was a German painter and photographer.
Polke experimented with a wide range of styles, subject matters and materials. In the 1970s, he concentrated on photography, returning to paint in the 1980s, when he produced abstract works created by chance through chemical reactions between paint and other products. In the last 20 years of his life, he produced paintings focused on historical events and perceptions of them.
Gerhard Richter is a German visual artist. Richter has produced abstract as well as photorealistic paintings, and also photographs and glass pieces. He is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary German artists and several of his works have set record prices at auction.
Joseph Heinrich Beuys was a German artist, renowned for his significant contributions to the realms of sculpture, painting, and installation art, which have left a lasting impact on the culture and art world. His work transcended traditional boundaries, merging art with social theory and politics, thus redefining the role of the artist in society. Beuys's unique approach to materials, incorporating substances like fat and felt, symbolized healing and insulation, reflecting his broader philosophical and ecological concerns.
Beuys's art was deeply influenced by his experiences during World War II and his academic background in natural sciences and sculpture. His concept of "social sculpture" proposed that art could transform society, emphasizing creativity as a fundamental component of human existence. This vision led him to use his performances, or "actions," as a medium to communicate his ideas, making him a pivotal figure in the Fluxus movement. Notable works such as "How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare" and "7000 Oaks" exemplify his innovative use of performance and environmental art to engage and challenge the public.
His legacy is preserved in major museums and galleries worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London. These institutions house key pieces that exemplify Beuys's diverse artistic output, from his early drawings and sculptures to his later installations and public interventions. His influence extends beyond the art world, impacting environmental activism and educational reform, underscoring his belief in the transformative power of art.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Joseph Heinrich Beuys remains a figure of immense interest, not only for his groundbreaking artworks but also for his profound impact on contemporary art theory and practice. To stay informed about new product sales and auction events related to Beuys, we invite you to sign up for updates. This subscription ensures you are always in the loop regarding opportunities to engage with the enduring legacy of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
Joseph Heinrich Beuys was a German artist, renowned for his significant contributions to the realms of sculpture, painting, and installation art, which have left a lasting impact on the culture and art world. His work transcended traditional boundaries, merging art with social theory and politics, thus redefining the role of the artist in society. Beuys's unique approach to materials, incorporating substances like fat and felt, symbolized healing and insulation, reflecting his broader philosophical and ecological concerns.
Beuys's art was deeply influenced by his experiences during World War II and his academic background in natural sciences and sculpture. His concept of "social sculpture" proposed that art could transform society, emphasizing creativity as a fundamental component of human existence. This vision led him to use his performances, or "actions," as a medium to communicate his ideas, making him a pivotal figure in the Fluxus movement. Notable works such as "How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare" and "7000 Oaks" exemplify his innovative use of performance and environmental art to engage and challenge the public.
His legacy is preserved in major museums and galleries worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London. These institutions house key pieces that exemplify Beuys's diverse artistic output, from his early drawings and sculptures to his later installations and public interventions. His influence extends beyond the art world, impacting environmental activism and educational reform, underscoring his belief in the transformative power of art.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Joseph Heinrich Beuys remains a figure of immense interest, not only for his groundbreaking artworks but also for his profound impact on contemporary art theory and practice. To stay informed about new product sales and auction events related to Beuys, we invite you to sign up for updates. This subscription ensures you are always in the loop regarding opportunities to engage with the enduring legacy of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
Sigmar Polke was a German painter and photographer.
Polke experimented with a wide range of styles, subject matters and materials. In the 1970s, he concentrated on photography, returning to paint in the 1980s, when he produced abstract works created by chance through chemical reactions between paint and other products. In the last 20 years of his life, he produced paintings focused on historical events and perceptions of them.
