HANS HARTUNG
Simon Lee Gallery, London
What the Gallery Says: “Concerned with the translation of the inexpressible onto canvas, Hartung’s emotional abstractions eliminated all figurative elements, pursuing such freedom of gesture and spatial dynamism with a litany of non-traditional tools, including spray guns, brooms and branches from the olive trees that grew in the grounds of his home and studio in the south of France… His late painting, much of which was made from the confines of a wheelchair, is amongst the most vigorous of his near seven-decades-long career, presenting a renewed sense of freedom, energy and ambition.”
Why It’s Worth a Look: In pre-war Paris, the German-French artist (1904-1989) rubbed shoulders with Calder, Miro, and Kandinsky. But these late works from the artist’s estate show how he carved out a lyrical style all his own, one both high-impact and surprisingly delicate, that stands the test of time.
What It Looks Like:
Installation view of “Hans Hartung” at Simon Lee Gallery, London. Image courtesy Simon Lee.
Hans Hartung, T1988-H35 (1988), courtesy of Simon Lee Gallery, Perrotin and Hartung-Bergman Foundation, copyright Hans Hartung/ADAGP, Paris 2018.
Hans Hartung, T1989-R22 (1989). Image courtesy of Simon Lee Gallery, Perrotin and Hartung-Bergman Foundation, copyright Hans Hartung/ADAGP, Paris 2018.
Hans Hartung, T1989-K48 (1989), courtesy of Simon Lee Gallery, Perrotin and Hartung-Bergman Foundation, copyright Hans Hartung/ADAGP, Paris 2018.
Hans Hartung, T1989-R22 (1989). Image courtesy of Simon Lee Gallery, Perrotin and Hartung-Bergman Foundation, copyright Hans Hartung/ADAGP, Paris 2018.
Hans Hartung, T1989-E48 (1983), courtesy of Simon Lee Gallery, Perrotin and Hartung-Bergman Foundation, copyright Hans Hartung/ADAGP, Paris 2018.
Hans Hartung, T1986-H34 (1986), courtesy of Simon Lee Gallery, Perrotin and Hartung-Bergman Foundation, copyright Hans Hartung/ADAGP, Paris 2018.
Hans Hartung, T1984-H15 (1984). Image courtesy of Simon Lee Gallery, Perrotin and Hartung-Bergman Foundation, copyright Hans Hartung/ADAGP, Paris 2018.
Installation view of “Hans Hartung” at Simon Lee Gallery, London. Image courtesy Simon Lee.
“Hans Hartung” is on view through February 17, 2018
Simon Lee Gallery is located at 12 Berkeley Street, London