7241 - Geiger, Rupprecht

Geiger, Rupprecht Untitled (Composition in Red) Colored chalks on Velin paper. Circa 1960. 48.2 x 50.5 cm. Signed in pencil on the reverse, with the artist’s address and labeled “T.21/48”. The cloudy, gently modulated red hovers in meditative stillness within the dark pictorial space, pierced from the lower right by the pink angle of the block that rises brightly like a gateway to the heavens —a fascinating contrast that captivates the viewer’s eye and unfolds a spatial as well as spiritual dimension of effect. This wonderfully distinctive composition is also a highly intriguing example of the decisive stylistic transformation that took place in Geiger’s work around 1960: At that time, he moved from works rich in form toward his typical pure color-field compositions, often featuring shades of red, orange, or pink, as seen on the front of the object. On the reverse, however, another composition by Geiger—created as early as 1948—illustrates his earlier style (“Still Life,” 1948, tempera, monogrammed): there, he still plays with complementary colors and a diverse array of forms in a lively and detailed manner. Provenance: Private collection, Cologne - Please ask for condition reports for the lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog.