By Paul Wunderlich
Located in Kansas City, MO
Paul Wunderlich
Altweibersommer
1982
Color Lithograph on B.K. Rives
Edition: 381 of 400
Image Size: 8 × 18.25 inches (20.32 × 46.36 cm)
Mat Size: 17 × 27 inches (43.18 × 68.58 cm)
Signed and numbered in pencil
Paul Wunderlich (1927–2010) was a German painter, printmaker, and sculptor, widely recognized for his refined, often enigmatic figurative compositions. A key figure in postwar German art, Wunderlich developed a highly distinctive visual language that blends elements of Surrealism, Symbolism, and Art Nouveau with a strong emphasis on line, form, and surface.
Closely associated with the Hamburg University of Fine Arts—both as a student and later as a professor—Wunderlich gained early recognition for his lithographic work. His career, however, was not without controversy; in the early 1960s, some of his prints were temporarily confiscated due to their erotic content, which at the time was deemed provocative. This tension between sensuality and restraint would remain a defining characteristic of his oeuvre.
Wunderlich’s work frequently centers on the human figure—particularly the female form—rendered with elongated proportions, smooth contours, and a sculptural precision that borders on the idealized. His compositions often evoke mythological or allegorical themes, exploring dualities such as beauty and danger, intimacy and distance, and control and vulnerability. The surfaces of his works are typically polished and highly controlled, reflecting his exceptional technical command.
As a printmaker, Wunderlich achieved particular mastery in lithography, producing richly layered images with subtle tonal gradations and crisp, elegant line work. His editions are widely collected and remain an important part of the European printmaking tradition of the late 20th century.
Paul Wunderlich lithograph...
Category
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Figurative Prints
