Oil , synthetic resin and tempera on fiberboard, mounted on white-primed fiberboard by the artist. Signed and dated upper right. Signed, dated twice, titled "Nächtliche Fantome" and "Nightly Phantoms" in German and English on the reverse and inscribed with the dimensions. 22.5 x 65.1 cm. Fiberboard: 28,6 x 71,5 cm.
[CH].
- A work from Baumeister's group "Wachstum und Wind (Growth and Wind, 1949-1953) that is strongly reduced in form and color and yet suggestive. - Baumeister dissolved any memory of figuration and created calligraphic, sign-like fabric structures in this work. - With the reduced use of color and the light overpainting or the omission of dark areas of color, Baumeister invented new forms of his idea of the positive-negative effect, which he had conceived long before. - Will Grohmann shows a painting from this group of works on the cover of the first catalogue raisonné (Cologne 1963). - Further works from this small, important series can be found in, among others, the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, the Sprengel Museum, Hanover, the Secession in Vienna and the Buffalo AKG Art Gallery, New York.
LITERATURE: Peter Beye/Felicitas Baumeister, Willi Baumeister. Catalog raisonné of paintings, vol. II, Ostfildern 2002, p. 668, no. 1693 (black-and-white illu.). Villa Grisebach Auktionen, Berlin, 85th auction, November 25, 2000, lot 425 (fig.).