Die Argonauten, Anselm Kiefer
Anselm Kiefer
Die Argonauten
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Anselm Kiefer

Die Argonauten, 1990


Dimensions
280 x 500 cm
Physical Description
Acrylic, ashes, lead, wire holder, glass, chalk, plastic figures, loam, oil, porcelain, snakeskin, straw, textiles and teeth on canvas
Inventory Number
SG 1278
Acquisition
Acquired in 1992 with support of Gabriele Quandt
Status
Not on display

Texts

About the Work

Hardly any other German painter concerned himself as intensely with politics and history as Anselm Kiefer. Yet he also drew from the formative sources of the history of ideas – here, for example, the Greek myth of Jason, the Argonauts and the Golden Fleece. Kiefer does not paint in the strict sense, but expands the traditional conception of painting by supplementing his works with layers of materials such as hair, straw or loam. And he does not illustrate the myth, but uses set pieces of the present in an attempt to create an imaginary link to it. The dress in the middle is a reference to the poisoned bridal gown with which Medea, Jason’s lover, killed her rival. The teeth represent the dragon teeth Jason sowed. They sprouted armed warriors whom he had to defeat. The work is thus to be interpreted associatively rather than ‘explained’.

About the Acquisition

Gabriele Quandt-Langenscheidt, the daughter of the German industrialist Harald Quandt and his wife, Inge Bandekow, was awarded her Master of Business Administration at the French business school INSEAD in 1985. As a result of various industrial shareholdings, she is one of the wealthiest women in Germany. She is also the chairwoman of the Harald Quandt Holding, which administers the fortune of the heirs of Harald Quandt. Since 1986 she has been married to the German publisher Florian Langenscheidt, with whom she has two sons. The couple founded 'Children for a Better World', which encourages the involvement of children and young people in volunteer work. Each year, particularly successful initiatives receive awards.

Audio & Video

  • Basic information
    02:14
  • Focus on cultural history
    01:44
  • Focus on material
    01:56
KunstIStück – Anselm Kiefer: Die Argonauten
Sammlungshighlights des Städel Museums in unterhaltsamen und informativen Filmen – das sind die Kunst|Stücke. Entdecken Sie spannende Details zu Kunstwerken aus ungewöhnlichen Blickwinkeln in unter zwei Minuten. Anselm Kiefer: Die Argonauten (1990), Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main. Weitere umfangreiche Informationen zum Werk finden Sie in unserer Digitalen Sammlung: https://sammlung.staedelmuseum.de/de/werk/die-argonauten#yt

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Last update

02.12.2024