Artwork Description

Title: gleich und doch verschieden 1–9
Artist: Reiner Kallhardt
Date: 2007
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 15.7 x 15.7 in (40 x 40 cm)

Artwork Identification:
In gleich und doch verschieden 1–9 (translated: Same and Yet Different 1–9), Reiner Kallhardt presents a tightly structured field of chromatic square forms meticulously arranged within a four-quadrant grid. Each unit explores variations of the same compositional formula—nested squares in vibrant hues surrounding stark black cores—creating a visual rhythm that is both cohesive and playfully varied. The work is mounted in a shadow-box frame, heightening its dimensional presence.

Artistic Style and Influences:
Firmly rooted in the Op Art and Concrete Art movements, Kallhardt’s painting employs pure geometric repetition and spectral color harmonics. The interplay of rainbow gradients with rigorous spatial symmetry channels the chromatic discipline of Josef Albers while expanding into the luminous, kinetic terrain explored by Victor Vasarely and Richard Paul Lohse. Kallhardt’s practice emphasizes clarity, visual logic, and perceptual depth through formal precision.

Historical Context:
Created in 2007, the piece reflects Kallhardt’s continued exploration of seriality and chromatic dialectics. The Title: underscores a conceptual tension between uniformity and variation—each module conforms to the same spatial logic yet diverges chromatically. It exemplifies the artist’s engagement with modernist systems and postmodern play, inviting viewers into a dialogue on repetition, identity, and difference.

Provenance:
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation:
This artwork is in very good condition. The canvas is stable and free from warping or surface irregularities. The pigments retain their vibrancy, and the surface presents no visible damage or restoration.

Artistic Significance:
gleich und doch verschieden 1–9 is a masterful example of Reiner Kallhardt’s contribution to postwar geometric abstraction. The work operates at the intersection of visual clarity and perceptual intrigue, offering a compelling meditation on the nuances of sameness and difference. Its structural rigor and luminous palette make it a notable piece within the canon of European Op Art.