작품 상세

Ernst Wilhelm Nay (German, 1902-1968), "Variation IV", 1955, watercolor on paper, signed and dated lower right, 6-1/4" x 9-1/4". Framed. Provenance: Gift of the artist; Estate of Ruth Wilkins Sullivan. Nay trained with Karl Hofer (German, 1878-1955) at the Berlin Art Academy and later studied in Rome and, thanks to a grant backed by Edvard Munch (Norwegian, 1863-1944), spent time in Norway. In 1937, two of his works were included in the infamous "Entartete Kunst (Degenerate Art)" exhibition organized by the Nazi Party; this effectively destroyed his reputation and stalled his career. After the war, Nay relocated to Cologne where his painting style moved increasingly towards a more abstract approach. In 1955 he began his "Scheibenbilder" series of paintings. As seen with the painting offered here, these works incorporated rich discs of color composed on the canvas in such a way as to suggest movement and vitality. His works are in the permanent collections of such diverse institutions as the Kunstmuseum Basel, Tate Modern, and the Guggenheim.