Jan Schoonhoven

Sale: Kunsthaus Lempertz, Cologne, Zeitgenössische Kunst, 3 December 1994, Lot 847
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner

Colour: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is slightly warmer with the white tending more to ivory in the original. The catalogue illustration fails to fully convey the three dimensionality of the relief apparent in the original. Condition: This work is in very good condition. There is evidence of light wear around the extreme edges with some associated stable hairline and light surface cracks. Upon very close examination there are a few isolated minute specks of paint losses: one towards the top of the protruding right edge, to the top of the protruding left edge and another to the lower left extreme protruding corner tip. There are two pin prick-sized fly spots towards the centre of the protruding right edge, which are only visible upon very close inspection. There is a fine matrix of craquelure to the inside upper edge of the central relief element, and a few further minutes isolated surface cracks elsewhere. There is an old auction house label adhering to the top of the extreme right edge. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals some scattered spots of retouching to a number of places throughout the relief.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Executed in 1969, R69-23 is a stunning example from Jan Schoonhoven's iconic series of schematic white reliefs. A sequence of geometric lines interlace at angles creating facets which emerge and recede in a rhythmic pattern across the surface. The dynamic interchange between front and rear planes encourages the eye to wander and explore its tactile surface, while the movement of light across the contours creates shadows which articulate and enhance the formal grid arrangement. Extraordinary for its pure abstract visual dynamism and exquisite execution, R69-23 elegantly illuminates the central precept of Schoonhoven's pioneering philosophy – that no colour, material or element is allowed to dominate this new visual order.

By the mid 1960s, the Zero movement had evolved and expanded exponentially beyond its three-person origins in Düsseldorf to become an international Post-War tendency - one that effectively signalled the early stages of the art world transforming into a global community no longer precluded by national boundaries. Taking its inspiration from the regularity and order he perceived around him in the fabric of modern living, Schoonhoven's work sought to form a bridge between art and contemporary society through a universal abstract visual language that was both devoid of emotion and filled with infinite possibilities of interpretation. Using an impersonal and entirely novel approach to art making that combined painting and sculpture, his exquisitely hand-crafted monochrome papier-maché reliefs possess an internal harmony, whose sense of purity is carefully balanced by their delicate surfaces and subtle tonal movement.