Abstract Composition (attributed to Hans Hartung style)
Painting on paper or thin panel • In the manner of Hans Hartung or the School of Paris (L’École de Paris)
Style & Movement
Art Informel / Tachisme / Lyrical Abstraction
Medium & Technique
Gouache, ink, or mixed media; employs tachisme (blotting) and gestural abstraction with rapid, sweeping brushstrokes and ink splattering.
Creation Period
Circa 1950s - 1960s
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 40 x 30 cm; vertical (portrait) orientation
Subject Description
A non-objective composition focusing on the energy of the mark. A central ivory/white mass is anchored by dark, vertical calligraphic strokes, set against a muted teal or slate-blue background. Thin red lines provide dynamic tension.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; visible aging consistent with late mid-century works on paper.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $15,000 (if confirmed as an original work by a known minor master of the school)
Auction Estimate
$3,000 - $7,000
Provenance History
Likely originated from a European private collection or a gallery specializing in Post-War European Abstraction. No visible labels and stamps on the face.
Art Historical Significance
Representational of the post-WWII shift toward existential abstraction in Europe, where 'psychic improvisation' and the physical act of painting took precedence over traditional form.
Notable Features
The contrast between the heavy industrial blacks and the delicate, nervous red lines is a hallmark of high-quality mid-century gestural abstraction.
Condition Issues
Possible slight yellowing of the paper support and minor edge wear; minor pigment stabilization may be required if the gouache is thick (impasto) and brittle.
Conservation Recommendations
Should be mounted using acid-free materials and framed behind UV-protective glass. Avoid exposure to high humidity to prevent paper cockling.