Head, Georg Baselitz
Georg Baselitz
Head
DE
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Georg Baselitz

Head, 1963


Dimensions
100.0 x 64.0 cm
Physical Description
Oil on canvas
Inventory Number
SG 1267
Acquisition
Acquired in 1988
Status
On display, 2nd upper level, Old Masters, room 21

Texts

About the Work

Baselitz’s ‘Head’ shows a slimy yellow mass with blood-red patches. It is misshapen, repellent, almost revolting. Only gradually does one recognise a tongue, an eye, an ear, and a penis instead of a nose: grossness, disjunction and fleshy physicality culminate here, and the inside seems to have been turned out. The picture narrates nothing, but what it shows is painfully unfathomable. Particularly against the background of Art Informel of the late 1950s, Baselitz’s violent, brutally deforming painting was absolutely outrageous and, in the best sense, disturbing.

Work Data

Basic Information

Title
Head
Artist
Period Produced
School
Object Type
Physical Description
Oil on canvas
Material
Technique

Property and Acquisition

Institution
Departement
Collection
Creditline
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main
Picture Copyright
© Georg Baselitz
Acquisition
Acquired in 1988

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre
Main Motif

Iconclass

Primary
  • 0 Abstract, Non-representational Art
  • 31A221 head (human)
  • 22C4 colours, pigments, and paints

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Last update

13.03.2024