Untitled (Herzmuster) 1965

This painting by Konrad Lueg presents rows of colorful teardrop-shaped marks on a neutral ground. Imagine the artist in his studio, systematically dabbing the canvas with a brush loaded with different hues – blue, yellow, green, red, and orange. What’s going on in his mind as he repeats this gesture? Is it pure experimentation with color and form, or is there a deeper inquiry into pattern and repetition? There is something satisfying about this simple, yet engaging, composition. The flatness of the paint emphasizes the surface and the materiality of the medium. It’s the kind of painting that sparks dialogue and reflection. Lueg was a contemporary of other German painters like Richter and Polke, all artists who were looking at how the language of advertising and pop culture could be absorbed into painting. It is interesting to see how artists are in ongoing conversation, constantly building upon each other's creative energy, inspiring new perspectives, and expanding our understanding of what painting can be.