Thomas Ruff – Sterne, 18h 12 m / -40°, 1990 – Lithograph

Image: 26.5 x 17.75 in (67.5 x 45 cm) - Sheet: 35.24 x 25.75 in (89.5 x 65.4 cm) - Frame: 35.83 x 26.38 in (91 x 67 cm) - Published by Edition Schellmann, Munich and New York

Sterne, 18h 12 m / -40° by Thomas Ruff is a lithographic print that captures the infinite expanse of the night sky. Created in 1990, this artwork exemplifies Ruff’s interest in astronomy and the cosmos. The print features a densely scattered array of stars against a deep, dark background, evoking both the beauty and mystery of space. Ruff’s attention to detail in rendering the stars creates a mesmerizing sense of depth, pulling the viewer into the boundless vastness of the universe. Measuring 67.5 cm by 45 cm for the image itself, with a larger sheet and frame size, the work is part of a limited edition of 40, published by Edition Schellmann in Munich and New York. This piece invites contemplation on our place within the cosmos and the silent immensity that surrounds us.

Thomas Ruff (Germany, 1958) is a contemporary photographer known for his conceptual approach and exploration of the photographic medium. A member of the Düsseldorf School, he has produced diverse series, including large-scale portraits, architectural studies, and digitally manipulated images. Ruff's work challenges perceptions of reality and representation in photography.

Thomas Ruff

Sterne, 18h 12 m / -40°, 1990

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

Lithograph

LithographLithography is a printing method based on the principle that water and oil do not mix. It can be used to print artwork or text onto paper or other suitable materials. Traditionally, an image was drawn with wax, fat, or oil onto a lithographic limestone surface or plate. Today, metal plates and other surfaces are also used in lithographic printing.

Edition

Edition of 40

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Limited Edition Print

Deemed the ‘master of edited and reimagined images’, Thomas Ruff is a photographer renowned for his use of technological advancements as a means of bringing new meaning and visual possibilities to his field. Press++ is among the photographer’s most notable works and is comprised of numerous images that had been published in American newspapers and magazines between the 1920’s and 1970’s, later sourced by Ruff on eBay - in producing the works, he scanned the front and back of the images and digitally combined them, with consideration taken of touch-ups, scribbles and date stamps. Among Ruff’s wider oeuvre are expressionless portraits, blurred pornography, domestic interiors and internet-sourced JPEGs. Heavily inspired by his teachers Bernd and Hilla Becher, Ruff learned from their expertise in straight photography; Joel Meyerowitz and Stephen Shore are among his other early influences.

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Thomas Ruff