Horse in the forest
- Authentic unique piece from the artist's estate
- Horse in the forest – Bright colours and deep black
- Late representative of German expressionism
- Master of animal depiction
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€920.00
Features and Remarks
Since his student days in Leipzig, animal painting has been one of the most important subjects in Fritz Keller's work. There he regularly visited the zoo, and later also the animal parks in his home region.
Water buffalos, 1940s (from: Hebecker 2000, S. 9)
Keller translates these impressions into the medium of painting throughout his entire oeuvre. From 1969 onwards, and increasingly towards the end of his career, the painter developed a largely abstract style of painting that detached itself from the concrete animal body. Only ciphers and silhouettes of animal creatures suffice, which receive their ‘life’ from these very colour chords in front of an abstract, strongly colour-structured pictorial space.
Here, the deep black, gesturally curved contours outline the back of a horse, perhaps a tail, as well as branches and leaves from nature. Above all, the contrasting areas of colour that shine out between the black immerse the picture in a nocturnal mood.
The dark blue and rich brown seem to be illuminated by the powerful yellow. Here and there, the white background flashes through the loosely composed picture, so that further accents of light play around the shadows.
Keller's colours immediately cast a spell over everyone.
Cattle are true ‘primordial animals’ – they can be found as archaic motifs even in the earliest cave paintings. Keller also reduces their forms to the essentials – he marks them with a few black contours that outline the wedge-shaped head, horns and long back. We look down from above at a tightly intertwined group of animals, which convey a feeling of warmth and closeness.
Those familiar with Keller's work will recognise clear elements of his conception of nature and the figure, and yet this work pushes towards abstraction. The focus is placed entirely on rhythm and colour.
A visually strong and convincing work by the late expressionist.
Excellent provenance - The painting comes directly from the artist's estate.
At the request and expense of the purchaser, we will be happy to obtain a written appraisal.
Informations about the artwork
| Category | Malerei |
|---|---|
| artist | Keller, Fritz |
| year | 1991 |
| Title | Horse in the forest |
| size 1 | 75,5 x 50,0 cm |
| material | Gouache on paper |
| edition | Unique |
| signature | Verso serial number and estate stamp: 906 Nachlaß Fritz Keller Glauchau |
| publication |  vgl. Hebecker, S. & K. (2000). Fritz Keller. Malerei auf Papier. Erfurt: Bilderhaus Krämerbrücke, S. 91 |
| Provenance | Estate of the artist |
Information about the condition
|
The Painting is in a very good state of preservation Studio marks (slight creases. Tiny tears on the edge, approx. 0.5 cm) |
Information about the artist
|
Fritz Keller lived from 1915 till 1994 in Glauchau, Germany. Keller is considered a late expressionist. His paintings convince with intensive colours and an uncanny composition. |
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