Hans Hartung (1904-1989)

‘The idea must be allowed to ripen, to be pushed to its limit. I must be able to concentrate on and isolate its essence…and yet, at the same time, to retain in the execution the fresh, direct and spontaneous character which is the essence of the improvisation. To keep all this in balance, long effort is always necessary, but it must not show…First, before the blank canvas I feel the need to make a certain spot, a certain colour, or a mark. The first marks lead to others. Colours lead to signs which in turn suggest marks whose role might be to support or to contradict what already exists as much as to stabilize the painting. In any case, I act at first with complete liberty.’ – Hans Hartung