Rainer, Arnulf | Unfinished Into Death II (12), 2011 — available on Composition Gallery

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12 x ARNULF RAINER - UNFINISHED INTO DEATH - Signed by Arnulf Rainer on a certificate of Authenticity - Containing 12 photos (paper size 36x50cm) and 1 page of text by Arnulf Rainer in English, German, Chinese and Spanish.

Unfinished Into Death II (12) by Arnulf Rainer, created in 2011, is a compelling collection of twelve photographs that explore themes of mortality, transformation, and the human form. Each image in the series features expressive, layered drawings over photographic portraits, blending abstraction with figuration. Rainer’s use of bold, gestural lines and intense colors—often in shades of red, purple, and black—conveys a raw emotional intensity, capturing figures in various stages of movement, enclosure, and introspection. The overlaid strokes suggest both protection and entrapment, as if the figures are encased in cocoons or shrouds, emphasizing the fragility and transience of life. This body of work reflects Rainer’s fascination with existential themes, pushing the viewer to contemplate the boundary between life and death through a visceral visual language.

Arnulf Rainer (Austria, 1929) is a pioneering artist known for his abstract informal art. He co-founded the Hundsgruppe in 1950 and developed his signature 'overpaintings,' where he layered paint over existing images, exploring themes of creation and destruction. Rainer's work often delves into the subconscious, reflecting his interest in dreams and the mystical.

Arnulf Rainer

Unfinished Into Death II (12), 2011

Name: Unfinished Into Death II (12), 2011
SKU: 4650
Price: 7100.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Form

Photography

PhotographyPhotography is the process of creating an image on light sensitive materials. The image is produced by using a camera, which has a lens that focuses on light either reflected or emitted from an object. These visible wavelengths are used to reproduce the image seen.

Medium

Photograph

PhotographA photograph is an image captured with a camera. Traditionally, photographs were made by exposing film and then developing the image on light-sensitive paper using chemicals. Today, photographs can also be captured digitally and printed or displayed electronically. The process requires a camera, whether film or digital, and a photographer.

Edition

Edition of 50

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Only an 'almost,' a 'nearly,' is possible.
- Arnulf Rainer

Renowned for his abstract appropriation art, Arnulf Rainer is a painter and founder of the Hundgruppe (dog group) alongside fellow artists Brauer and Mikl. Rainer has recevied acclaim for his technique of ‘overpainting’ which involves him taking a pre-existing work, and painting over it, usually with gestural strokes and a heavy impasto; Wine Crucifix is one of his most notable ‘overpaintings’ - originally painted in 1957 by the artist, he decided to rework it in 1978 noting that the ‘quality and truth of the picture only grew as it became darker and darker’. Rainer was heavily inspired by the depths of the human mind and explored his own subconscious through painting with the technique of Automatism, popular among Surrealist painters – he also experimented with painting with his feet and fingers as well as exploring the effect of hallucinogenic drugs on his creativity.

Artwork by Yves Klein

What is body art?

Body art involves creating art directly on or with the human body. Common forms include body piercings and tattoos, but it also encompasses practices like branding, scarification, scalping, body painting, full-body tattoos, body shaping, and sub-dermal implants. Body art can also refer to a subcategory of performance art where the artist's body is central to the artwork.

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Arnulf Rainer

Unfinished Into Death II (12), 2011

50 x 36 cm

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Arnulf Rainer