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Hans Purrmann

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Hans Purrmann by Christoph Wagner explores the life and work of one of the twentieth century's foremost colourists. Purrmann, influenced by Henri Matisse and the expressionists, developed a vibrant, distinct style across cities like Munich, Paris, Berlin, Florence and Switzerland. The book reveals how his art transcended simple "representational painting," embracing modernist qualities that resonate beyond his era. Exhibited at documenta I and honoured with a major Munich retrospective in 1962, Purrmann’s legacy continues to influence art history.
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This book is ideal for readers passionate about modern art, twentieth-century European painting, and those interested in the evolution of modernism through a key but sometimes overlooked figure.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The painter Hans Purrmann (1880-1966) ranks among the most important colourists of twentieth-century art. Drawing on Henri Matisse and the expressionists, he developed a distinct and acclaimed artistic practice over the course of a life lived in places from Munich to Paris to Berlin to Florence to Switzerland.

Part of the secret of Hans Purrmann's art is that in his work he translated the visible in a very specific and vibrant manner. With irrepressible curiosity, attentiveness, and an unerring eye for beauty and the primal and essential, he produced works whose classification as "representational painting" falls short. In fact, his place in art history is one which continues to offer points of departure for modernism.

In 1955, Purrmann was included in documenta I in Kassel, and in 1962 he was the subject of a major retrospective at the Haus der Kunst in Munich, which was hailed by the press as a sensation. Based on new sources, Christoph Wagner presents the life and work of Hans Purrmann and places the painter as a prominent protagonist within the coordinates of twentieth-century art history.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9783777436791

Publisher: Hirmer Verlag

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 25 November 2021

Country: Germany

Imprint: Hirmer Verlag

Illustration: 55 Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 205.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 80

About the Author

Christoph Wagner is Professor of Art History at the University of Regensburg. His numerous publications on modern art have earned him international attention.

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