Joseph Beuys - Signed Exhibition poster

1983

This signed exhibition poster was created for "Luther und die Folgen für die Kunst" (Luther and the Consequences for Art), held at the Hamburger Kunsthalle in 1984. Hand signed by Joseph Beuys, in bleu, center below. Sheet size : 84 x 59.4 cm. 
The exhibition explored the impact of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation on the development of art, focusing on the tension between religious iconography and modern artistic interpretations. It brought together works by legendary German artists, including Joseph Beuys and Caspar David Friedrich.  
The poster design is both mystical and dramatic, featuring a gothic church silhouette rising from a dark, forested landscape, evoking themes of spirituality, nature, and transcendence. The central panel highlights one of the key works in the exhibition—Joseph Beuys’ "Kreuz im Gebirge"—a sculpture made from rough industrial materials, symbolizing the intersection of faith, history, and contemporary society. 
Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) was one of the most influential conceptual artists of the 20th century, known for his social sculptures, performance art, and radical ideas on democracy and ecology. His participation in this exhibition connected the spiritual and philosophical impact of the Reformation with contemporary artistic expression, challenging traditional notions of faith and materiality.