Alice Heger (XX) - Rot im Rot

Alice Heger (German, 20th century) – Rot im Rot (Red in Red), 1968

A vivid example of late-1960s German painting, Rot im Rot captures the expressive, music-inflected energy of the era. Painted in Karlsruhe during a dynamic cultural moment, the composition is defined by its striking red-on-red palette and confident, gestural brushwork.

The work suggests the silhouette of a guitarist emerging through layered planes of color and shadow, balancing graphic immediacy with atmospheric depth. Heger, active in the Karlsruhe art scene and documented in exhibitions during the mid-1960s, explored figure-ground tension and expressive chromatic harmonies—qualities that are strongly present in this piece.

Notably, the reverse of the painting bears a handwritten price indication of “500 Deutsche Mark”, likely dating to the period of its creation or early sale. Such period inscriptions are rarely preserved and offer a valuable insight into the work’s early market positioning.

Both visually bold and conceptually refined, this work stands as a compelling example of independent German post-war artistic production, with particular appeal for collectors of mid-century and music-related imagery.

Details:

Artist: Alice Heger
Title: Rot im Rot (Red in Red)
Year: 1968
Medium: Oil on hardboard
Dimensions: 80 × 60 cm
Signature: Signed and dated (1968)
Condition: Excellent

Provenance:

Private collection, Germany, 2024
Flegma Gallery, 2025