Arnulf Rainer - Büste im Nebel

Arnulf Rainer’s Büste im Nebel (Bust in the Mist) from 1977 is a haunting drypoint etching that merges figuration with abstraction. A classical bust emerges through a haze of dense, scratched lines, its form simultaneously revealed and obscured. This technique, characteristic of Rainer’s radical “overpainting” and mark-making practices, emphasizes erasure, distortion, and transformation.

By veiling the figure in gestural strokes, the artist destabilizes the boundaries of representation, creating a work that meditates on identity, memory, and disappearance. As one of only 50 signed and numbered impressions, this etching exemplifies Rainer’s innovative approach to printmaking in the late 20th century.

Arnulf Rainer, born in 1929 in Baden bei Wien, Austria, and residing in Vienna, is a pivotal figure in contemporary Austrian art, renowned for his abstract prints and paintings. With a career spanning over seven decades, Rainer has demonstrated a relentless pursuit of artistic innovation and a penchant for challenging traditional norms, often stirring both admiration and controversy. Largely self-taught, the painter has crafted a distinctive path in the art world that began with an early interest in Surrealism, which he integrated with the spontaneity of Art Informel. This blend spurred his interest in the deconstruction of form during the 1950s, leading to his development of overpainting—a technique for which he is best known. Overpainting involves the partial or complete reworking of existing artworks, including prints and photographs by other artists, which Rainer transforms with a thick, impasto style characterized by gestural, bold marks. This process allows him to overlay the original pieces with his own artistic vision, effectively creating new artworks that bear his unique signature. Through his overpaintings, Rainer explores themes of "the extinction of expression, permanent covering, and contemplative tranquility," as he seeks to both obscure and enhance the underlying images. His artwork challenges the conventional boundaries of artistic ownership and creation, positioning his artworks as radical statements within the broader discourse of contemporary art. Arnulf Rainer’s contributions include not only his original paintings but also limited edition prints that encapsulate his innovative techniques. He employs deep and forceful etching marks to extend his overpainting practice into the medium of print. Similar to his paintings, he produces densely textured abstract prints by layering stark, gestural lines to obscure and transform existing artwork. Arnulf Rainer’s significant role in shaping the landscape of modern art has been mirrored by his participation in documenta in Kassel (1972, 1977 and 1982) and representing Austria at the Venice Biennale in 1978. Additionally, his work has been featured in retrospectives at major international institutions, including Albertina, Vienna (2014), Alte Pinakothek, Munich (2010), Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York and the Centre Pompidou, Paris.