Ralf Altrieth - 14-5-23 - XL

Acrylic on strong paper, ivory tone
105 x 75 cm (with white margins), 100 x 70 cm (without margins)

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

DESCRIPTION:

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

On paper, Ralf Altrieth unfolds here a world populated by fragmented figures, mischievous glances, and shapes that seem to emerge freely from one another. Nothing is entirely defined, yet each 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 areas, lines and spontaneous gestures, blends with color superpositions and material transfers that enrich the surface of the paper. The bright colors cross and respond to each other, while the white spaces give the whole a particular breathing space. The composition seems free and instinctive, yet it is traversed by 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 its colors, then holds the gaze with the multitude of details that progressively appear. It never reveals itself completely at first glance.

Framed with a wide matte, the painting takes on its full dimension and naturally finds its place in a contemporary interior, where its free and singular character provides 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 in a communicative freedom.

CRITIQUE:

"There is a lot 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 painterly poems of Ralf Altrieth are a pure childlike chant... But the most astonishing thing manifested in these paintings is a communicative tenderness for the states of mind of the human being."
— Dr. Friedhelm Häring, museum director and art historian

"His writing through gesture and color describes a world open to new voices and experiences never attempted. His canvases and works on paper demonstrate that painting remains a major expression of the contemporary scene."
— Laurent Puech, art historian and curator

BIOGRAPHY:

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

NOTE ABOUT THE MARGINS:
The outer margins of the paper show a few traces related to the removal of the masking tape. They are perfectly normal and occur only on the unpainted areas. They will be cut off or hidden by a mat according to the choice.
There are two presentation options:
- With mat: the outer margins of the paper will be hidden by the mat.
- Without mat with frame 70 × 100 cm (see setup visuals): place the glass over the paper and cut the margins with a cutter.

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

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