AR Penck - Untitled (Three of Many, 1990)

The Diversity of Simplicity: AR Penck’s Untitled (Three of Many, 1990)

The present painting, oil on canvas, “Untitled (Three of Many, 1990)”, which was created shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, is one of the rare and important works from the series “Man and Animal, after the Opening”, which has a special significance in Penck’s oeuvre.

This monumental work with outstanding provenance is a rare opportunity to experience a piece of history. “Untitled (Three of Many, 1990)” - refers to a German documentary short film by Jürgen Böttcher from 1961, which was initially banned and then premiered in 1988. In the film, three painters introduce themselves who work as truck drivers, chemical engineers and stonemasons. After work, they meet for a painting group at the adult education center. They prepare an exhibition with Ralf Winkler, who would become famous in the West much later.

The present work is therefore, in the broadest sense, an autobiographical and important work, because it refers to a specific event, follows the artist's most recognizable painting style and the iconic use of the colors red and black in his work.

The most important features of the artwork

About AR Penck

AR Penck, actually Ralf Winkler, was an important German artist with expressive and symbolically charged works. Born in Dresden in 1939, he was influenced by the Nazi era and the post-war period. He chose his pseudonym as a tribute to the miner's son Max Ernst Ludwig Pechstein and Dresden.

Penck's work displays a unique visual language, influenced by primitive and archaic forms as well as the aesthetics of computer technology. His distinctive style, often described as "neo-expressionism", is characterized by clean lines, simplified forms and bright colors. A recurring motif is humans and animals in simple, schematic forms that address universal themes. His works reflect social and political tensions, especially during the Cold War and the Iron Curtain.

Penck was not only a painter, but also a sculptor, graphic artist and musician. His broad artistic spectrum enabled him to explore different media and forms of expression. His influence is international and his works are exhibited worldwide.