Georg Baselitz: Woodblock Prints from the Sixties
4 November 1999
The Michael Werner Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of woodblock prints from the 1960s by the German artist, Georg Baselitz.
During the mid-Sixties, Baselitz worked on his seminal series of paintings which depict a regenerated man or “hero” whom he called “the new type.” In these paintings, images of large, oddly proportioned figures, such as hunters, rebels and shepherds, are often portrayed in ruined, barren landscapes.
Concurrently, Baselitz worked on a series of woodblock prints featuring the “hero” figures of the mid-Sixties, and subsequently, the fractured figures of the late Sixties. Following the German tradition of print making as a critical medium in and of itself, Baselitz printed three or four different states of each carved image, focusing on the experimentation and variation within the very small hand-printed editions. In thoroughly exploring every image, Baselitz has created one of the most stunning bodies of work in 20th century print making.
Although Baselitz’ prints are little-known in the United States, they are a key component of his oeuvre, on par with his paintings and sculptures. His prints have been the subject of many important exhibitions in Europe, including the Tate in London, the IVAM in Valencia, and the Cabinet des Estampes in Geneva. Several major monographs of both his early woodblocks, etchings and later prints have been published.
The exhibition will be on view from 4 November through 16 December 1999. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 10am until 6pm.
For further information, please contact the gallery.
