128 - Herbert Falken, "Hommage à Bacon", Papst, drawing from 1977

Herbert Falken, "Hommage à Bacon", Papst, drawing from 1977 Herbert Falken, 1932 Aachen - 2023 Düren, a German Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Aachen, as well as a draughtsman, painter and printmaker; here: “Hommage à Bacon”, Pope, inscribed “Falken should finally paint sensible pictures! Or give it up!”, pencil/coloured pencil/highlighting in white/paper, 40 x 30 cm, dated 28 September 1977, without frame About the artist: He then studied philosophy and theology in Bonn and Aachen until 1964. After his ordination in 1964, he served as curate at St Peter’s Church in Uerdingen until 1968 and at St Gregory’s in Aachen-Burtscheid from 1968 to 1977, but was granted partial leave of absence in 1974 so that he could devote more time to his artistic work. From 1977 to 1989, he was parish priest at St Joseph’s in Schevenhütte. Seven of the 22 church windows there (antique and opal glass, lead, black solder) were created by Falken; the remaining 15 by Georg Meistermann. As an artist, Falken was self-taught. He produced his first drawings in 1949 and his first paintings in 1950. He held his first major exhibition in 1964, together with Benno Werth, at the Suermondt Museum in Aachen. His participation in documenta VI in 1977 also brought him international recognition. In 1988, he was appointed Art Commissioner for the Diocese of Aachen.