$529
Peter Robert Keil (German, b. 1942) On a Sunny Lake in Colorado Signed and dated "P Keil 75" l.r., inscribed in the artist's hand on the reverse. Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36 in. (61.0 x 91.4 cm), framed. Condition: Craquelure with separating. N.B. Peter Keil is best known for his dynamic use of vibrant colors, harmonious forms, and vigorous lines. He was born in Poland but moved to Germany as a young boy with his mother, following the death of his father. As a child he was intrigued by the work of Pablo Picasso, whose playful images and bright colors offered him an escape from the bleakness of daily life in West Berlin. He began his studies at the age of fifteen with Otto Nager, and then went on to Berlin's Akademie für Bildende Künste. By the late 1950s, Keil had befriended Joan Miró and visited him at his studio in Mallorca. Miró's influence can be seen in Keil's work, namely in his rhythmic compositions and use of bright, primary colors. Keil set up a studio in Paris, where he embraced the Bohemian lifestyle and created images that reflected the coarseness of everyday life; his models were often those he encountered at night on the Parisian streets – prostitutes, drunks, and thieves. Keil eventually returned to Germany, were he was recognized as one of the leading figures in the Neo-Expressionist movement.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2007-05-18
