Claus-Otto Paeffgen (1933–2019) - I ♥ Oskar

work by Claus Otto Paeffgen (1933–2019) is titled I Love Oskar and was produced in 1990 as part of the portfolio Für Oskar Lafontaine, paying tribute to the influential German politician. Rendered in Paeffgen’s distinctive, heavy-lined graphic style, the image shows a stylised portrait of Oskar Lafontaine with a raised hand and a pink sign reading “I Love Oskar”, combining political iconography with pop-inspired visuals.

Executed as a colour offset lithograph on strong wove paper (Velin), this piece reflects Paeffgen’s consistent exploration of image repetition and social commentary through minimal but powerful means. Best known for his re-worked newspaper photos and iconic “cord drawings”, Paeffgen was an important figure of the post-war German art scene, with works held in numerous museum collections.

This particular print is hand-signed with the initials “C.O.P.” and numbered 50/50 in pencil in the lower margin, iTne overall design is both playful and politically charged, characteristic of the artist’s engagement with media, politics, and pop culture.

Comparable in spirit to the works of contemporaries such as Jörg Immendorff, Sigmar Polke, Martin Kippenberger, A.R. Penck, Markus Lüpertz, Jonathan Meese, and Georg Baselitz, Paeffgen’s prints also align conceptually with artists like Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, who fused portraiture with strong graphic techniques and cultural commentary.

Condition:
Very good condition. Only minimal handling traces near the edges. No tears or folds.