Georg Baselitz: Peintre – Graveur III

Virtuosity in the front row of post-war modern art

Georg Baselitz's interest in printmaking dates back to the very beginning of his artistic career. As a scholarship holder at the Villa Romana in Florence, he began collecting the Italian Mannerist Parmigianino in 1965. He said in an interview: "I liked printmaking for two reasons: Firstly, it is the simplest fixed way of reproducing an artistic idea. Secondly, it was also made for the small purse, for small people." His own first etchings date back to 1963/64, the first woodcuts to 1966, followed by linocuts in 1977 - works that have been published by Fred Jahn and Johannes Gachnang in a two-volume catalogue raisonné, mainly in black and white (Vol. I: 1963-1974; Vol. II: 1974-1982). The work of Johannes Gachnanung and Fred Jahn has now been taken up again by Rainer Michael Mason and Detlev Gretenkort and continued for the period from November 1982 to July 1989. As in his paintings and sculptures, his prints also deal with themes such as heroes, shepherds, eagles, trees and much more. This volume brings together the work numbers from the years 1983-1989, illustrated in full colour and with unique technical brilliance. There is no question that Georg Baselitz's oeuvre of prints stands independently alongside his paintings and sculptures. The artist has not only permeated the medium for decades in the diversity of his various technical approaches and solutions, but has also placed it at the forefront of post-war modern art through his unrivalled virtuosity. The third volume of the catalogue raisonné of Georg Baselitz's prints is now available here.