Markus Lüpertz, German, born 1941
The Phillips Collection in Washington DC reviewed some of the work of this artist in 2017.
Markus Lüpertz’ late figurative work, some of them centered on Arcadia, are some of the most beautiful recent figurations I have seen.
Arcadia, a cultural idea which – like Utopia – pulses sometimes stronger and sometimes more faint in Western civilizations.
And is not likely to die – any more than Utopia is likely to die although for different reasons – because it incorporates a complexity which is the foundation of life: that we live in a natural paradise. And that in this paradise is also death without which life cannot continue. (Et in Arcadia, Ego, 1637/8 of Nicholas Poussin after Virgil’s Eclogues).
From which context arises the most critical question we always have: how then shall we live?
I like the pensive and somewhat tentative but solid figures with which the artist has populated Arcadia.
I am heartened that he has addressed this subject at this time when there is so much noise and rubbish information around.
Tree Trunk Down Dithythrambic, 1966, distemper on canvas. Loaned by the Hall Art Foundation to The Phillips Collection, Washington DC in 2017
Waterlily, 1970, oil on canvas
Wood Shingles Dithythrambic, and detail, 1966, oil on canvas in two parts
Rumor, 1982, oil on canvas on the far left
The Large Spoon, 1982, and detail, oil on canvas in the middle. MOMA, NY
Rendevous, 1982, and detail, oil on canvas, on the right
Agepan II, 2010, mixed media on board
The Raven Philosopher, 1990, oil on canvas
(Without Title), 2008, oil on canvas
Untitled (Seelow Heights), 2009, acrylic on canvas. Loaned by the Würth Collection, Künzelau, Germany
Untitled (Seelow Heights), 2009, acrylic on canvas. Loaned by the Würth Collection, Künzelau, Germany
German Motif – Dithyrambic II, 1972, distemper on canvas
Man in Suit, dithyrambic, 1972, Distemper on canvas
Each of these is called Men Without Women, Parsifal, 1993, tempera on canvas
Young Man in the Garden, 1990, oil on canvas
Landscape, 1992, oil on canvas
Antique Color Theory, 2011, mixed media on canvas
Time, 2012, mixed media on canvas
Night, 2013, mixed media on canvas
Arcadia – The High Mountain, 2013, mixed media on canvas
Satyr + Nymph II, 2014, mixed media on canvas
Iphigenia (Markgravian), and detail, 2014, mixed media on canvas
With the Help of the Grasshopper, 2014, mixed media on canvas