Artist
Günter Brus(Austrian, 1938–2024)Austrian, 1938–2024
MakerDocumented by
Ludwig Hoffenreich(Austrian, 1902–1975)Austrian, 1902–1975
CultureAustrian
Titles
- Untitled
- from the portfolio Selbstbemalung II
- Self-painting II
Date1964
PlaceVienna, Austria
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsImage: 19 7/16 × 15 in. (49.4 × 38.1 cm)
Sheet: 19 7/16 × 15 in. (49.4 × 38.1 cm)
Mount: 23 5/8 × 19 5/8 in. (60 × 49.8 cm)
Sheet: 19 7/16 × 15 in. (49.4 × 38.1 cm)
Mount: 23 5/8 × 19 5/8 in. (60 × 49.8 cm)
Credit LineGift of Diego Cortez in memory of his father, Allan Robert Curtis and his mother, Jean Clare Ham
Object number2008.116.14
Not on view
Explore Further
Department
PhotographyObject Type
In this series Brus probes painting as ritual, making himself the canvas, the recipient of his actions as a painter. Here the photograph serves to preserve the performance, becoming the only way the performance could be disseminated visually. By rejecting the conventional definition of fine-art painting and performing actions on his own body that are usually done on or to a canvas—such as cutting and painting—Brus is both creator and object created.
ProvenanceDiego Cortez, New York; given to MFAH, 2008.
Exhibition History"Ruptures and Continuities: Photography Made after 1960 from the MFAH Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Brown Foundation Galleries, February 21 - May 9, 2010.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Stamped on verso mount lower right in a rectangle: "Damit bestätige ich die / Authentizität dieses Photos / (signature) / Alle damit nicht bezeichneten Photos / sind nicht autorisiert"
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
