Günther Förg

Galleria Salvatore + Caroline Ala, Milan
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Colour: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the background tends slightly more towards a pure white in the original. Condition: This work is in very good condition. There are some light handling marks and signs of minor wear along the outer edges and to the corner tips. Very close inspection reveals a hairline crack to the dark red paint towards the left edge, 35 cm. from the upper edge, and a small network of drying cracks to the dark purple paint to the centre of the lower right quadrant. No restoration is apparent when examined under ultraviolet light.
"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."

"Retrospectively, the reason for the continued importance of Förg’s oeuvre becomes clear. The evolution of his direct, subjective engagement with the aesthetic of the sublime oscillates between appropriation and homage, yet Förg does so without any ironic quotations or other such cheap distancing techniques.”
Andreas Schlaegel
Bruce Weber, 'Günther Förg, German Artist Who Made Modernism His Theme, Dies at 61', The New York Times, 18 December 2013, online