Arnulf Rainer, born on December 8, 1929, in Baden, Austria, is a pivotal figure in post-war European art, renowned for his abstract informal art. His journey into the art world was marked by early influences from Surrealism, but Rainer's style evolved significantly over the years, leading him to establish a unique artistic language characterized by overpaintings, destruction of forms, and a profound engagement with existential themes. Rainer's early years were spent in Baden, a spa town near Vienna, where he was born into a culture still reeling from the aftermath of the Habsburg monarchy's collapse. This cultural milieu, imbued with a sense of Weltuntergangsstimmung or "end-of-the-world mood," played a crucial role in shaping his artistic sensibilities. Despite this, Rainer received virtually no formal instruction in art, attending art schools in Vienna for less than a week in total during 1949–50. His technical procedures, often unconventional, were self-taught and deeply influenced by his early fascination with Surrealism. In 1950, Rainer, along with Ernst Fuchs, Arik Brauer, and Josef Mikl, founded the Hundsgruppe (Dog Group), marking his initial foray into the art world. This group was characterized by a revolutionary and surrealist inspiration, developing an existential work close to the human psyche. However, Rainer's artistic journey took a significant turn after a visit to Paris in 1951, where he encountered Abstract Expressionist and Art Informel paintings. This experience led him to move away from Surrealism and towards a more abstract and informal style of art. By the mid-1950s, Rainer began producing his signature Overpaintings, a process where he took existing paintings, drawings, or photographs (either his own or others') and partially obliterated the image with monochromatic color. This act of overpainting was not merely a physical layering of paint but a profound exploration of the themes of creation and destruction, life and death, visibility and invisibility. His work during this period was marked by a deep engagement with existential themes, including the human condition, spirituality, and the subconscious. Rainer's work is characterized by a relentless pursuit of transformation, both of the self and of the artwork. His series of redrawn self-portraits, death masks, and painted dead bodies, created from the late 1950s onwards, reflect a continuous exploration of the self's boundaries and the possibility of transcendence through art. His engagement with themes of death, eroticism, and the sacred imbues his work with a profound depth and complexity. Throughout his career, Rainer has been recognized for his contributions to the art world with numerous awards and honors. In 1978, he received the Grand Austrian State Prize and represented Austria at the Venice Biennale in the same year and again in 1980. From 1981 to 1995, Rainer held a professorship at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, the very institution he had left unsatisfied after just three days as a student. Rainer's works are held in major collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Arnulf Rainer Museum in Baden, Austria. The latter, established in 2009, serves as a testament to his enduring influence and legacy in the art world. In addition to his painting, Rainer's artistic practice includes performative works, extensive writings, and a significant collection of Outsider Art. His interest in the art of the mentally ill and his collection of works by artists on the fringes of society reflect his belief in the power of art to transcend societal boundaries and explore the depths of human experience. Arnulf Rainer's work continues to challenge and inspire, transcending traditional categories and inviting viewers into a profound dialogue with the mysteries of existence. His relentless exploration of the limits of the self and the transformative potential of art marks him as one of the most significant artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

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