DER SPATE KOKOSCHKA POSTER

This colorful vintage poster advertises an exhibition of the works of Oskar Kokoschka at the Kunsthalle (art gallery) in Bremen, Germany in 1960.

Kokoschka (1886-1980) was an Austrian painter, poet, playwright and teacher who was a prominent figure in the expressionism art movement.  As best described, expressionist art is art in which the image of reality is distorted in order to make it expressive of the artist’s inner feelings.

In this print, Kokoschka has painted his initials.  His reality and identity are the letter "O" and the letter "K" but he has not painted neat, concise letters; rather, he has distorted them.

Both pink, they are irregularly shaped, with elongated and jagged edges and holes. The O has a bit of a squiggly tail hanging down, and the K, angled at the middle, looks as though it is walking away from the O.  Behind the pink letters is a free-form purple shadow that doesn’t quite conform to the letters. 

Starting with "just" an "O" and a "K" Kokoschka has created a complex design open to many interpretations as to what it says about the artist.  In a sense, it is a self-portrait. How appropriate that this artwork was chosen as the exhibition poster for a show featuring Kokoschka's collected works.

This intriguing poster will add interest and color to your room.

Condition: A