A.R. Penck – Woman in Black

1987  

This rare and striking lithograph by A.R. Penck created in 1987, shows a haunting female half-portrait rendered in bold, expressive black lines. The composition radiates emotional tension and formal simplicity, hallmarks of Penck’s unique visual language.

The lithograph is hand-signed in pencil by the artist in the lower right.

Numbered in the lower left in pencil. It comes from an extremely limited edition of only 10, making it an exceptionally rare piece for collectors.

Executed in black ink on fine Vélin paper, the figure’s stylized features—thick black outlines, hollow eyes, and hand held close to the chest—create a sense of introspective stillness. Despite its simplicity, the work evokes powerful psychological depth, capturing themes of identity, vulnerability, and isolation. Penck’s mastery lies in distilling raw emotion into minimal, near-symbolic forms.

Professionally framed, mounted floating in a custom-made, acid-free passe-partout and presented in a deep, handcrafted black wooden frame, made in the Netherlands, with Plexiglas® Optical HC, which is UV-resistant and scratch-proof..
Size framed : approx. 100 x 80 cm

A.R. Penck (born Ralf Winkler, 1939–2017) was a leading figure in post-war German art and a key voice in the Neo-Expressionist and “Neue Wilde” movements. Best known for his abstract stick figures and pseudo-primitive symbols, he used a personal visual code to comment on politics, communication, and the division between East and West Germany. His work has been exhibited in major institutions worldwide, including MoMA New York, Tate Modern London, and Centre Pompidou Paris.