Opus 4 1951

Hans Hinterreiter constructed ‘Opus 4’ with paint and a highly developed sense of mathematical form, color and composition. The painting is a geometric puzzle box, isn't it? I can imagine him, a bit like me in the studio, shifting things around, trying different combinations, until suddenly something clicks. The earthy tones create a somber mood which the translucent geometrical figures counteract, almost like a ghostly presence on top of reality. Look how the hard-edged shapes create a rhythm across the canvas. The lines of color form a sense of depth but yet it's so flat! I love how he's not afraid to use color to create tension and harmony at the same time. Painters have always looked at the world in their own way and transformed their understanding of it into form, inspiring each other to create something new. This piece invites us to do the same, seeing the world through the lens of geometry.