Georg Baselitz

Georg Baselitz (1938–2026) is one of the most important German artists of our time. From the 1960s onwards, he developed a unique oeuvre, hallmarked by an expressive language of form and deliberate visual irritation, which fundamentally challenged the established conventions of representational painting.

From 1969, Baselitz established a central characteristic of his work with the systematic inversion of landscapes, portraits and nudes. By turning his images upside down, he freed motifs from their familiar reading and brought the formal and painterly qualities of the picture to the fore. In 2018, to mark his 80th birthday, the Fondation Beyeler devoted a comprehensive retrospective to Baselitz, organised in close collaboration with the artist.

The charcoal drawing Untitled (Tulips), dated February 1983, shows upside-down tulips, whose stems and leaves overlap to form a dynamic weave. The unusual orientation of the motif intentionally unsettles the viewer’s perception. Powerful, gestural charcoal strokes contrast with fine, open outlines, creating an interplay of concentration and emptiness. Recognisable representation combines with expressive dissolution of form. The drawing thus illustrates Baselitz’s interest in alienation, gestural expressiveness and the conscious interrogation of conventional visual perception.

Charcoal on paper

61 x 43.2 cm

Monogrammed and dated “GB 24.II.83” below right

Provenance: donated by Per Skarstedt