Karl Fred

KARL FRED DAHMEN (Stolberg, Germany, 1917 – Preinersdorf, Germany, 1981).
Untitled, 1974.
Etching. P.A. print.
Signed, dated, and inscribed in pencil.
Measurements: 30 x 24.5 cm (plate); 54.5 x 38 cm (paper).

This print reflects one of the most characteristic styles of Karl Fred Dahmen’s late work, in which architectural references blend with the language of Informalism. The composition evokes the remains of ancient walls or structures eroded by the passage of time, establishing a dialogue between geometry and matter. Karl Fred Dahmen was one of the leading representatives of postwar German Informalism. Trained at the Aachen School of Applied Arts, he began his career with figurative painting, evolving from the 1950s onward toward material abstraction, influenced by European Informalism and gestural painting.Throughout his career, he exhibited in numerous European galleries and museums and participated in major international exhibitions, establishing himself as a leading figure in German abstraction during the second half of the 20th century. His works are part of prominent public and private collections, including those of the Ludwig Museum in Cologne, the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum in Aachen, and the Leopold-Hoesch-Museum in Düren.