Georg Baselitz - Abe

Georg Baselitz’s Abe (1993) is a rare lithograph, issued in an edition of only 15 hand-signed, numbered, and dated prints. The composition exemplifies Baselitz’s raw, gestural approach, where dense black strokes overlap with softer gray washes, creating a tension between chaos and structure. The energetic mark-making resists figurative clarity, instead emphasizing the immediacy of the artist’s hand and the expressive potential of line. With its vigorous abstraction and bold contrasts, Abe reflects Baselitz’s radical exploration of form and his ongoing challenge to conventional notions of representation in printmaking.

Georg Baselitz is a German painter and sculptor renowned for his inverted imagery and profound exploration of German history and identity. Born in 1938 in Deutschbaselitz, Germany, he has become one of the foremost figures in his generation, significantly influencing the realm of Neo-Expressionism that prevailed in German art during the 1970s and 1980s. Baselitz’s innovative approach to creating artworks is characterized by his unique inversion technique, where he paints subjects upside down—a method he adopted in the 1960s to disrupt traditional views on representation and meaning in art. This technique, integral to his paintings and prints, compels viewers to reconsider their perceptions and the significance of the artwork, often invoking feelings of disquiet. Baselitz’s artwork draws from a variety of influences, including Soviet-era illustrations, Mannerist art, and African sculpture, which inform both his thematic focus and stylistic execution. His artwork not only challenges the aesthetic boundaries of painting and printmaking but also delves deeply into questions of national identity post-World War Two, prompting a reevaluation of what it means to be German. Through his extensive body of work, which includes limited edition prints and monumental sculptures, Baselitz has consistently advocated for the relevance of painting as a critical artistic expression in the contemporary world. His commitment to producing paintings and fine art prints has expanded the understanding of these media, emphasizing their continued importance in communicating complex historical and personal narratives. Georg Baselitz has had numerous important solo exhibitions throughout his career, including Royal Academy of Arts in London in 2007, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. in 2018, and the Albertina Museum in Vienna in 2023.