Christo (b. 1935)

Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin

Details
Christo (b. 1935)
Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin
signed and dated 'Christo 1972' (lower right), and inscribed 'Wrapped Reichstag/Project for West Berlin -- "Der Deutsche Reichstag" in Tiergarten Platz der Republik, Reichstag -- Platz and Schneidemannstr.'
pencil, fabric, colored wax crayons, colored pencils, twine and staples on board
29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4cm.)
Executed in 1972

Lot Essay

Daniel Varenne will include this work in his forthcoming Christo catalogue raisonn.

In September 1971, the Christos were approached with the suggestion of wrapping either the Reichstag or the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, both important monuments of German history. The Reichstag was under the jurisdiction at that time of both the East Berlin and West Berlin governments. A project that was so emblematic of the complex East-West relations was appealing to Christo. This drawing, from 1972, shows one of his first conceptions of this project, which was not realized until 1996.