2015-05-27 Amstelveen, Cobra museum, Arnulf Rainer

Arnulf Rainer (Baden, December 8, 1929) is a leading Austrian painter. His work belongs to the informal painting. He became acquainted with overpainting (German: Übermalungen) of photos and graphics.
Arnulf Rainer was influenced initially by surrealism. Later on his work more towards informal art as action painting and art brut. He began on existing prints and photographs to paint (Übermalungen). His work also has an affinity with the Viennese Actionism and abstract expressionism. For a time, his work was also related to body art. Arnulf Rainer painted series 'Übermalungen' portraits of himself and Egon Schiele, Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt and other painters he admired. Drawing and painting on the chosen substrate to the extent that the original image is buried under an expressive lines to complete overpainting. He has a preference for religious and mystical themes, body and nature. In his late work he paints with bare hands and his feet.

The building
The Cobra Museum of Modern Art, located in the heart of Amstelveen, is housed in a beautiful building of the famous Dutch architect Wim Quist. In the museum surprise the open spaces of the exhibition halls. By daylight and the visual presence of nature there is a pleasant art-oriented atmosphere.
(Amstelveen, near Amsterdam)