Large-format acrylic painting “Traffic Light”

Acrylic painting “Traffic Light”

The artwork Acrylic painting entitled “Traffic Light” by Wilfried Gehring, born in Essen in 1933, is an outstanding example of the expressive possibilities of acrylic painting on canvas. The work was created in 1972 and is signed by the artist on the reverse. It impresses with its considerable size of 160 cm in height and width. It not only captures the dynamism of the 1970s but also reflects Gehring’s distinctive style, characterized by bold colors and clear forms.

Wilfried Gehring, who studied art at the renowned Folkwang School in Essen from 1952 to 1956, is an important representative of German post-war art. His works have been shown in numerous exhibitions, including in cities such as Duisburg, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Münster, and Cologne, where he was represented at the prestigious Documenta 5. Gehring’s participation in major art markets, including the Cologne Art Market and Galeriehaus Thelen, testifies to his recognition in the art world. He is an artist rooted in the dynamic Rhine-Ruhr scene, and his works have been documented in renowned exhibitions and catalogs.

The painting “Traffic Light” was created at a time when Gehring was intensively exploring the themes of movement and structure. His choice of acrylic paint allows him to work with intense colors and strong contrasts, which is particularly evident in this work. The canvas becomes a space in which areas of color and lines create a kind of visual tension. It is intended to evoke the function and symbolism of a traffic light, but goes far beyond a mere depiction.

Wilfried Gehring

Gehring belongs to a generation of artists who sought new forms of expression after the Second World War, drawing inspiration from international movements. Contemporaries such as Bernard Buffet, Fernando Botero, Donald Judd, and Alex Katz, as well as Claes Oldenburg and Robert Rauschenberg, also shaped the era in which Gehring was active. Despite being surrounded by these great names, Gehring always maintained an independent artistic style.

“Traffic Light” is not only an example of Gehring’s artistic skill; it is also a document of the artistic developments of the 1970s in Germany. It is a work that impresses with both its physical presence and its conceptual depth and occupies a significant place in contemporary art history.

Another work from a different era is this Art Deco lithograph of “Louis Icart.”

Art Deco at RSA Wiesbaden

You can find more Art Deco cabinets, Art Deco chests of drawers and Art Deco lamps in my shop in Wiesbaden. Regine Schmitz-Avila – your specialist for French Art Deco furniture and art objects from around 1930.