Imi Knoebel German, b. 31-12-1940
Untitled, 1989
Collage, varnish and ink on paper
H 122.5 W 102.5 (in artist frame)
Unique Piece
Signed and dated in pencil lower right
€24,500.00
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This mixed media piece (lacquer, collage, and ink on paper, 120 × 100 cm) was created in 1989, a pivotal period in Knoebel’s career
This mixed media piece (lacquer, collage, and ink on paper, 120 × 100 cm) was created in 1989, a pivotal period in Knoebel’s career. It was gifted by the artist in 1992 to the curator of his exhibition at the Bonnefantenmuseum in Maastricht. That same year, it entered the museum’s collection as a long-term loan, where it remained on view until late 2022. A very similar work is still part of the museum’s permanent collection.
Knoebel — a student of Joseph Beuys and close to Imi Giese and Blinky Palermo — emerged in the 1960s with a radical minimalist and constructivist visual language. His early works, such as this one, reference Kazimir Malevich and the spirit of postwar abstraction. This piece bridges that early phase with the richly colored, more emotive works that followed Palermo’s death.
Even in this expressive work on paper, Knoebel’s signature ideas are clearly visible: geometric composition, standardized materiality, and intuitive freedom in the use of color and form. These early works rarely come to market — and with this level of provenance and scale, it’s truly a standout.
Provenance
This work by Imi Knoebel was gifted by the artist in 1992 to the father of the previous owner, who curated Knoebel’s exhibition that same year at the Bonnefantenmuseum in Maastricht. As a gesture of gratitude, Knoebel personally gave this mixed-media work to the curator. The work was subsequently placed on long-term loan to the Bonnefantenmuseum, where it remained from 1992 until December 2022 under a formal loan agreement. The agreement was originally set for 15 years and continued informally until the passing of the lender. A highly similar piece remains in the permanent collection of the Bonnefantenmuseum to this day.