On the other day I met again with the name of Hartung. I was reading on action painting a kind of Abstract Expressionism popular for some time. I have the priviledge to visit an exhibition of Hartung at the Guggenheim Museum, Manhattan, New York. It was a great experionce! Hartung was known for me some time but kind of works presented there were quite new, never found in books dealing with that significant artist. Admittedly, I have rather poor access to expensive artbooks – limited sharply by my financial resources – and available place on my bookshelfs.
Hartung Hans, TR 13 H 18 Date: 1982 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Acrylic.
It is great isn’it? The five vertical strips with soft borders radiate calmness while the black spots tell artistic stories on action and T1974-E44 Date: 1974 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Oil on canvas.
T1974-E44 Date: 1974 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Oil on canvas.
I remember well on that one from New York. It has been made by two techniques combined. First a layer of two blues, nearly monochrome was stained over the canvas, leaving no free unpainted parts.. Then came a high number of small yellow spots some at distances other joined near completely. Fantastic result, right?
T-52-32 Date: 1952 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Gouache.
This suggests for me some influence of Rothko. Rotated by 90 degrees and eliminating the narrow diagonal strips as well as the undulating lines, it would pass as an example of Rothko’s. However, the strips and line are there and provides sufficient evidences for considering Hartung as an independent matured artist working in his own style fairly early on his life at Paris.
Sans Titre Date: 1956 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Mixed technique.
I remember well on this painting since being reproduced a catalogue purchased at Guggenheim. This little book is among my best treasures. The oblique blacks with sharp points suggest great force. I wonder how he made them. He must have been using at least two brushes, one wide and another quite small to make the points. At least I would have been doing a reproducion that way. I do not remember whether or not mentioning that my way to „learn and understand” works by trials of copy them. I know that this hard work was used for long time in teaching artists including the great ones in China for hundreds of years or others painting ikons and belonging the Orthodocs Church.
P.1960.263 Date: 1960 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Crayon.
This last one is an example of his artworks which fails attracting me. I dislike the narrow lines. Due to the fact that it has been made by using crayons (pencils) it is likely a small artworks in contrast with his others having dimensions over 100 cm or so.
Hartung Hans, TR 13 H 18 Date: 1982 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Acrylic.
It is great isn’it? The five vertical strips with soft borders radiate calmness while the black spots tell artistic stories on action and T1974-E44 Date: 1974 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Oil on canvas.
T1974-E44 Date: 1974 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Oil on canvas.
I remember well on that one from New York. It has been made by two techniques combined. First a layer of two blues, nearly monochrome was stained over the canvas, leaving no free unpainted parts.. Then came a high number of small yellow spots some at distances other joined near completely. Fantastic result, right?
T-52-32 Date: 1952 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Gouache.
This suggests for me some influence of Rothko. Rotated by 90 degrees and eliminating the narrow diagonal strips as well as the undulating lines, it would pass as an example of Rothko’s. However, the strips and line are there and provides sufficient evidences for considering Hartung as an independent matured artist working in his own style fairly early on his life at Paris.
Sans Titre Date: 1956 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Mixed technique.
I remember well on this painting since being reproduced a catalogue purchased at Guggenheim. This little book is among my best treasures. The oblique blacks with sharp points suggest great force. I wonder how he made them. He must have been using at least two brushes, one wide and another quite small to make the points. At least I would have been doing a reproducion that way. I do not remember whether or not mentioning that my way to „learn and understand” works by trials of copy them. I know that this hard work was used for long time in teaching artists including the great ones in China for hundreds of years or others painting ikons and belonging the Orthodocs Church.
P.1960.263 Date: 1960 Movement: Art Informel Theme: Abstract Technique: Crayon.
This last one is an example of his artworks which fails attracting me. I dislike the narrow lines. Due to the fact that it has been made by using crayons (pencils) it is likely a small artworks in contrast with his others having dimensions over 100 cm or so.