Tuymans, Luc | Wiedergutmachung, 1995 — available on Composition Gallery

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Luc Tuymans' Wiedergutmachung is a silkscreen print from 1995 that presents dismembered and stylized human limbs—arms and hands—arranged in a grid-like composition on a cream-colored background. Each limb is accompanied by a small handwritten number, evoking cataloguing or forensic documentation. The limbs appear abstracted, with subtle textures and tonal variations suggesting decay or mechanical reproduction. The title, Wiedergutmachung (German for 'reparation' or 'atonement'), alludes to post-war restitution efforts, especially in the context of Germany's response to the Holocaust, infusing the work with historical and moral weight. Tuymans’ minimalist but charged imagery confronts viewers with themes of memory, accountability, and the fragmentation of human identity. The limited color palette and precise layout reflect the artist’s characteristic restraint and psychological intensity.

Luc Tuymans (Belgium, 1958) is a prominent contemporary painter known for his muted palette and enigmatic imagery. His works often explore themes of memory, history, and politics, blending realism with abstraction. Tuymans is considered a pivotal figure in the revival of figurative painting and has exhibited widely across major international venues.

Luc Tuymans

Wiedergutmachung, 1995

Name: Wiedergutmachung, 1995
SKU: 16169
Price: 2400.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Silkscreen

Silkscreen Silkscreen is a printmaking method that uses a screen made of silk or other mesh fabric. The screen is treated with a substance that blocks ink in certain areas, allowing ink to pass through only in the desired sections. Each color in the print requires a separate screen.

Edition

Edition of 150

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●Inventory 16169

Limited Edition Print

Digital Print on paper

EUR 6,000

Luc Tuymans

Peaches and Technicolor , 2013

Limited Edition Print

Renowned for his figurative paintings that depict images sourced from existing visual materials such as television, print and film media, Luc Tuymans is an artist who explores the cultural and historical meaning of events, often providing a different context or perspective through his trademark choppy brushstrokes and a muted, darker palette. Tuyman's subjects range from historical world events such as the second world war, to the mediocrity of every day– among his most notable works is his Heritage series which was created in response to the Oklahoma City bombing; the paintings capture the artist’s notion of a ‘traditional American life’ with subjects including a working man, a birthday cake and a portrait. Of his unique method of transforming existing media into a form of evocative art, Tuymans has remarked “There is a physical element intertwined with the painting [of an existing photograph]. It shakes loose an emotional element within the viewer.” (Artist website)

Artwork by Miles Aldridge

What is contemporary art?

Contemporary art refers to avant-garde or innovative art created in the recent past or present day. The exact starting point of contemporary art varies depending on the institution, often tied to the founding year of museums or galleries that showcase the style. Contemporary art is characterized by its focus on current ideas, diverse media, and the exploration of new concepts and techniques.

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Luc Tuymans

Wiedergutmachung, 1995

48 x 61 cm

Language & Currency

Luc Tuymans