Victor Man
Victor Man: Die Linien des Lebens
Published on occasion of the artist's 2023 exhibition at the Städel Museum. Subtle influences of the pre-Renaissance, dense with metaphors, emerge in Man's melancholic imagery. In deep dark green, blue, and black, the artist creates portraits as intimate as they are enigmatic. Stylistically complex and difficult to categorize: Man’s work reveals numerous art historical references while at the same time representing a unique position in contemporary painting.
The title of the exhibition, “The Lines of Life”, is a quote from Friedrich Hölderlin’s poem “To Zimmer” (1812) and refers to Victor Man’s close connection to poetry and literature. These references, as well as connections to his own life reality, are repeatedly found in his painting—for example, the individuals depicted in the portraits in the main part of the exhibition come from his family environment and circle of friends. Immersed in predominantly dark scenarios and with a contemplative gaze, the sitters are enveloped in existential heaviness. The paintings bear witness to an intense exploration of human existence and speak of the poetic as well as tragic ambivalence of life.
Published by Städel Museum, Frankfurt, 2023
(Currently unavailable for purchase from Gladstone)
Cover design by Atelier Dyakova
