Hans Hartung (1904-1989)

Biographical Sketch

Hans Hartung (Leipzig 1904 - Antibes 1989) was an important representative of French Informal Art and the Parisian School. He began his studies at the art academies of Leipzig, Dresden and Munich and in 1927, began visiting Paris regularly, moving there in 1935. Joined the foreign legion. In 1945 he became a French citizen. His artistic work developed from its Expressionist and Cubist beginnings to full abstraction (1922). The line (referring to a childhood experience with lightning) gained enormous meaning as impulsive gesture and graphic expression. The line as gesture and surface became the central motif of his paintings and etchings, and was reflected as well in his sculptures. Hartung was one of the most important artists of his time and his work can be seen in museums around the world. ek

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References:

Grafik aus der Erker-Presse Hans Hartung. Lithografien Holzschnitte Linolschnitte. Erker-Verlag St. Gallen 1973;

Jennifer Mundy: Hans Hartung. Works on paper 1922-56. Tate Gallery Publishers in collaboration with Fondation Hans Hartung and Anna-Eva Bergmann;

Registers of works:

Rolf Schmücking: Hans Hartung. Das graphische Werk 1921-65, Basel 1990.

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Note:

References given are not meant as a list of the best works available on the subject, but simply reflect the author's sources.

Registers and catalogues of works are included when known and correspond to the information given in the index.