UNTITLED (PHASEN). UNIQUE PAINTING (GOUACHE ON CARD) 1960.

23 x 23cm, black and grey and white gouache on thick card which has been cut out and then glued on to a larger piece of card (42 x 297cm approx.) and signed “Vostell 1960” in pencil bottom right.

A remarkably early painting from the master at a time when he was becoming involved in the original Décollage Movement and also creating artist’s books which were related to the emerging concrete poetry movement. This work – which has full and traceable provenance – is very similar to those printed works he produced in the same year which are entitled “Phasen” and involved the painted repetition of words on top of each other to create a dark brooding mass of shapes. In its chaotic aspect this work prefigures Vostell’s decollage works. The backing card has some very small creases but else this is in very good condition.

Unique but all such early works by Vostell are extremely hard to find after 50 + years. Purchased directly from the artist’s estate.