Hans Hartung (German, 1904 - 1989) Manner of: Untitled (Abstract Composition with Vertical Lines), 1960. Ink and oil crayon on laid paper, signed and dated lower right. Unframed.
Hans Hartung painted his first abstract works as early as 1922, but his work was only truly acknowledged by critics and his peers after the Second World War. He obtained French nationality in 1946 and received several military decorations together with the Légion d'honneur. In 1947 the Galerie Lydia Conti in Paris organized his first personal exhibition, soon followed by several personal and group exhibitions with Georges Mathieu, Pierre Soulages or Willi Baumeister among others. Hans Hartung was one of the beacon artists of Informal art and lyrical abstraction, artistic movements which can be considered as the European parallel to that of American abstract expressionism. In terms of approach, it is the creative process which is important, trying to translate on the canvas the act of painting in itself, rather than representing a preconceived idea. Hartung said: "It is an emotional state which compels me to act, to create some forms in order try to transmit and provoke a similar emotion in the viewer. Also [...] I enjoy acting over a canvas. This wish drives me: the desire to leave a trace of my gesture on the canvas or on paper. It is the act of painting, of drawing, of marking, of scratching." (Hans Hartung, quoted in M. Lefebvre, Hans Hartung Autoportrait, Paris, 1976, p.180).

12.75 x 18.75 inches.

Private collection Europe; acquired from above by the current owner, a California Gentleman.

Good condition with minor flaws, lower right corner is bent; small bit of paper missing top left; handling mark near signature.

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