ABOUT THE PRINT - Lithograph on BFK Rives paper. - Printing size: 31x42 paper size: 57x77 - The work bears the dry stamp of Erker Presse and annotations on the back by the publisher. ABOUT THE ARTIST Hans Hartung, (Leipzig, 1904 – Antibes, 1989) Hans was a German-born painter and a leading figure in 20th-century abstract art, particularly associated with Art Informel and Abstract Expressionism in Europe. Born in Leipzig, Germany, Hartung showed an early interest in art and photography, experimenting with expressive lines and dynamic compositions from a young age. He studied at art academies in Leipzig, Dresden, and Munich, where he was influenced by modern movements such as Cubism and Expressionism. Forced into exile by the rise of Nazism, Hartung settled in France in the 1930s and later became a French citizen. During World War II, he enlisted in the French Foreign Legion and was seriously wounded, resulting in the amputation of one leg—an experience that deeply marked his life and artistic outlook. Hartung is best known for his gestural abstraction, characterized by energetic brushstrokes, scratched lines, and bold contrasts of color. He developed innovative techniques, using tools such as rakes, branches, and spray guns to create spontaneous and rhythmic compositions. His work emphasized movement, emotion, and the physical act of painting rather than representation. Among his major achievements, Hartung received the Grand Prize for Painting at the Venice Biennale in 1960, one of the highest honors in contemporary art. His works are held in major museums worldwide, including the Centre Pompidou and the Museum of Modern Art. Hartung’s legacy remains central to the development of postwar abstract painting.