Arnulf Rainer *
(Baden near Vienna 1929–2025 Enzenkirchen, Upper Austria)
Untitled, 1972/1976, monogrammed with R, signed and dated on the reverse Rainer 72/ 76, mixed media on cardboard on wood, 60.5 x 42.5 cm, framed
Provenance:
Private Collection, Upper Austria (acquired directly from the artist in the 1970s)
I am still revising these paintings even today, steadily approaching complete blacking out, although I have long
since forgotten what lay beneath. My favourite activity is overpainting an overpainting. I never wanted to destroy,
but instead to perfect.
I needed a certain positive contact to the
overpainted image. Although not exclusively, I perform
my artistic work primarily as a soliloquy.
Just as a dream continues during deep sleep,
overpainting is the development
of this soliloquy into silence.
A. R.1970
Are you still working on earlier paintings?
In 1971 I noted that paintings are not for you to look at, but something to alter. Only on works made in recent years. I leave earlier works just as they are. I can no longer rediscover the feeling associated with the shapes and energy from those days.
From: Arnulf Rainer in conversation with Antonia Hoerschelmann – Rätsel der Zusammenhänge, Vienna, 20 May 2014
Specialist: Mag. Barbara Freisitzer
(Baden near Vienna 1929–2025 Enzenkirchen, Upper Austria)
Untitled, 1972/1976, monogrammed with R, signed and dated on the reverse Rainer 72/ 76, mixed media on cardboard on wood, 60.5 x 42.5 cm, framed
Provenance:
Private Collection, Upper Austria (acquired directly from the artist in the 1970s)
I am still revising these paintings even today, steadily approaching complete blacking out, although I have long
since forgotten what lay beneath. My favourite activity is overpainting an overpainting. I never wanted to destroy,
but instead to perfect.
I needed a certain positive contact to the
overpainted image. Although not exclusively, I perform
my artistic work primarily as a soliloquy.
Just as a dream continues during deep sleep,
overpainting is the development
of this soliloquy into silence.
A. R.1970
Are you still working on earlier paintings?
In 1971 I noted that paintings are not for you to look at, but something to alter. Only on works made in recent years. I leave earlier works just as they are. I can no longer rediscover the feeling associated with the shapes and energy from those days.
From: Arnulf Rainer in conversation with Antonia Hoerschelmann – Rätsel der Zusammenhänge, Vienna, 20 May 2014
Specialist: Mag. Barbara Freisitzer
