Hans Hartung

Hans Hartung’s dynamic abstract compositions exemplify the aesthetic and conceptual practice of Art Informel, placing the German French painter as an influential figure in the development of post-war European art. Born in 1904 in Leipzig, Germany, Hartung showed an early interest in art, drawing inspiration from various art historical references from Rembrandt van Rijn, Wassily Kandinsky to the German Expressionists. He studied art history and philosophy at the University of Leipzig before attending the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden.

In the 1930s, Hartung moved to Paris, where he became associated with the burgeoning abstract art movement. His early works were characterised by bold, gestural brushstrokes and a deep exploration of form and colour. Despite the challenging circumstances of World War II, during which he was interned in a French prison camp for being a foreign national, Hartung continued to develop his artistic style. After the war, he settled in France, eventually gaining French citizenship in 1946.

Along with his contemporaries in Paris including Pierre Soulages, Zao Wou-ki and Georges Mathieu, Hans Hartung developed Tachism, a style of painting that was part of a larger French post-war movement known as Art Informel, which counted Karel Appel, Jean-Paul Riopelle and Jean Dubuffet as its members. Akin to Abstract Expressionism, this style of painting is characterised by spontaneous brushwork and an emphasis on the physical act and gesture of painting.

The artist was known for his innovative techniques, such as using spray guns, brushes, and other unconventional tools to create varied textures and lines on his explosive compositions. Hans Hartung’s paintings often featured energetic, sweeping lines and contrasts of light and dark, reflecting a deep emotional intensity.

The 1950s and 1960s were particularly fruitful periods for Hartung. He achieved significant recognition and was awarded the International Grand Prize for Painting at the 1960 Venice Biennale. Hartung died in 1989 in Antibes, France. His work is widely exhibited in New York, Paris, London, Berlin, Tokyo and Beijing. His paintings can be found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Tate in London and more.