erika roessing (1903–1977)

In her tempera paintings, which are imbued with a tranquil poetry, erika roessing constantly rearranges similar objects – and yet each painting is completely unique. Her body of work, documented in notebooks, comprises some 180 still lifes on canvas. Magical, lyrical, at times melancholic works, which are invariably meticulously composed in subtly muted colours, combine geometric ornamentation with motifs from ancient Italy: birds, fruit, foliage, baskets, ewers and vases. Theme and variation define the work of this artist, who is now being rediscovered and whose last solo exhibition was held at the New Gallery of Linz in 1980.

The retrospective held at Lentos showcases approximately 100 paintings by the artist, who trained alongside Herbert Bayer in Linz and subsequently in Gmunden under Franz Zülow, and who was resident in Essen, Berlin, Linz and Stuttgart before finally moving to Gauting near Munich.

The exhibition centres on the 1979 donation by Karl Rössing, the artist’s husband and internationally renowned graphic artist and academy professor, of 50 tempera paintings from the estate of the artist, who died in Vienna in 1977. This is augmented by private loans, on display for the very first time, featuring early works created during the Nazi era that had long been believed to be lost. The exhibition follows roessing’s guiding principle of “not transience, but eternal presence” and simultaneously initiates a dialogue with selected works by Karl Rössing.