Ralf Altrieth - Sans titre - XL

Acrylic on heavy paper, ivory tone
75 x 105 cm (with white margins), 70 x 100 cm (without margins: see below note)

Signed and dated on the back by the artist
Certificate of authenticity signed by Ralf Altrieth

DESCRIPTION:

A lush universe where the imagination seems to come alive before our eyes.

On paper, Ralf Altrieth unfolds here a world populated by strange creatures, fragmented figures, mischievous glances, and forms that appear to spring freely from one another. Nothing is entirely defined, yet every apparition has its own character. The eye moves from one character to another, discovers a detail, a gaze, a silhouette — then returns, drawn by a new presence.

The acrylic, applied in brushstrokes, flat washes, lines and spontaneous gestures, blends with color overlays and material transfers that enrich the surface of the paper. The vivid colors cross and respond to one another, while the white spaces give the whole a particular breath. The composition feels free and instinctive, yet it is threaded with a true sense of rhythm and balance.

Between drawing, painting and graphic writing, the work unfolds a living poetry: it first attracts with its energy and colors, then holds the eye with the multitude of details that gradually appear. It never fully reveals itself at first glance.

Framed with a wide matt, the painting takes on its full dimension and naturally finds its place in a contemporary interior, where its free and singular character adds an artistic presence that is both expressive and playful.

At the border between free figuration, instinctive drawing and abstraction, this series testifies to a deeply personal approach by Ralf Altrieth: a painting with no apparent rules, where imagination, humor and gesture meet with communicative freedom.

CRITIQUE:

"There is a great deal of poetry in this painting, as in all the artist’s works. They are populated with narrative codes and fantastical tales. In this sense, the pictorial poems of Ralf Altrieth are a pure childish chant... But the most astonishing thing manifested in these paintings is a communicative tenderness for the states of mind of human beings."
— Dr. Friedhelm Häring, museum director and art historian

"His writing through gesture and color describes a world open to new voices and unattempted experiences. His canvases and works on paper demonstrate that painting remains a major expression on the contemporary scene."
— Laurent Puech, art historian and curator

BIOGRAPHY:

Ralf Altrieth (Heilbronn, 1966) is a Franco-German painter and musician, renowned for his expressive and spontaneous universe, at the crossroads of figuration and abstraction. Trained in his teens with painter Georg Schaible and then at the Academy of Fine Arts of Nürtingen in the late 1980s, his work stands out for its rare pictorial energy and a particularly sensitive language. His works are now in multiple private collections around the world.

NOTE ABOUT THE MARGINS:
The outer margins of the paper show some traces related to the removal of masking tape. They are completely normal and occur only on the unpainted areas. They will be hidden by the mat if you choose that method, or can be removed by trimming the piece from 75 × 105 cm to 70 × 100 cm (see situational visuals). Your local framer can take care of this easily.

SHIPPING:

The work will be shipped rolled in a sturdy tube to ensure safe transport.
It is entrusted to an express carrier with home delivery, full tracking and a required signature upon delivery, to guarantee the best protection of the artwork until it is handed over to you in person.

Note: The situational images are presentation suggestions created with AI based on photos of the actual work. Photos of the real object are authoritative (close-ups, full work, back and profile photos). Colors may vary slightly depending on your screen’s color profile.