Georg Baselitz – Adler (Eagle) 1, 1981 – Woodcut

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Hand-signed, dated (front side) -numbered (on reverse side, from an edition of 50) -print and paper size 100cm x 80cm -originally published in the portfolio "Erste Konzentration" 1982 -printed in oil paint on paper by Elke Baselitz (wife of the artist) -very good condition

Adler (Eagle) 1 by Georg Baselitz is a striking woodcut print created in 1981, embodying the artist’s bold exploration of human form and existential themes. The piece, rendered in stark black and white, depicts a human figure seemingly falling or suspended upside down amidst abstracted, flame-like shapes. The figure’s body appears contorted, accentuating a sense of descent or struggle. Baselitz’s use of inversion and contrast adds intensity, inviting viewers to confront themes of vulnerability and the human condition. Known for his expressionist style, Baselitz challenges traditional representations, using raw lines and dark tones to evoke profound emotion.

Georg Baselitz (Germany, 1938–2026) was a groundbreaking painter, sculptor, and graphic artist, known for his Neo-Expressionist works. Renowned for inverting his subjects in 1969 to challenge artistic conventions, Baselitz explored themes of memory, identity, and national history. His provocative style profoundly shaped contemporary art.

Georg Baselitz

Adler (Eagle) 1, 1981

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Woodcut

WoodcutWoodcut is a printing technique where an image is carved into the surface of a woodblock using gouges, with the remaining flat surface holding the ink for printing. The areas cut away by the artist do not carry ink, while the uncut areas do, producing the desired print. The carving follows the wood's grain, unlike wood engraving, where the block is cut across the end-grain. Ink is applied to the surface with a roller, ensuring only the flat, uncarved areas receive ink, leaving the recessed, non-printing areas clean.

Edition

Edition of 50

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Limited Edition Print

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I always feel attacked when I'm asked about my painting.
- Georg Baselitz

Renowned for his expressionistic, often grotesque figurative artwork, Georg Baselitz’s output spanned painting, wood sculpture, and printmaking. His most notable works often addressed questions surrounding Germany’s national identity in the aftermath of the Second World War. He was at the centre of significant controversy in 1980 when he represented Germany at the Venice Biennale, exhibiting a large wooden sculpture that appeared to reference a Nazi salute.

Among Baselitz’s early influences were Art Brut and Abstract Expressionism, as well as the work of artists such as Wassily Kandinsky and Edvard Munch. The exaggerated features present throughout his work were intended as symbolic devices, and one of his most recognised bodies of work is the Hero series, depicting wounded and scarred soldiers in the aftermath of war.

Towards the end of the 1960s, Baselitz began painting his subjects upside down as a deliberate strategy to shift focus away from representation and toward the act of painting itself. His Elke series stands among the most notable examples of this approach.

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Artwork by Georg Baselitz

Who are the Neue Wilden?

Neue Wilden is the term German artists used for Neo-Expressionism. In the 1970s and 80s, expressive painting re-emerged in Germany, with artists embracing intense colors and broad brushstrokes. The movement grew in opposition to minimal and conceptual art, favoring a return to raw, emotional expression through bold and dynamic painting techniques.

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Georg Baselitz

Adler (Eagle) 1, 1981

100 x 80 cm

Language & Currency

Georg Baselitz