Georg Baselitz

Georg Baselitz in Dialogue with the Old Masters: The Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna has invited the painter and sculptor to engage in a visual conversation. He personally selected the works, focusing exclusively on the nude figure. The exhibition and catalog revolve around this elemental human condition, which has always been a central theme of European art. Since his early work, Georg Baselitz has operated with a pronounced art historical awareness, particularly influenced by Mannerism and its rule-breaking tendencies. The encounter between the works of Georg Baselitz and historical images of idealized figures from the Kunsthistorisches Museum offers exciting insights into the history of nude painting as well as the relevance of painting itself. The artist raises fundamental questions that concern us all and opens a challenging experiential space through the encounters of the works.

Georg Baselitz (1938, German Baselitz) has been one of the most significant painters of our time for decades. His upside-down motifs, which have characterized his work since 1969, are unmistakable and have successfully challenged viewing habits and sharpened perception. His works defy fixed categories, yet they always revolve around general questions regarding the possibilities and problems of painting.