Cubist Muse - Peter Robert Keil - 1970s

An exceptionally bold monumental oil on board by celebrated German Neo-Expressionist artist Peter Robert Keil, executed in the artist’s unmistakable gestural Cubist manner during the 1970s. Signed lower right and presented under glass within an architecturally scaled faux bamboo parcel-gilt frame, the work embodies the raw immediacy and graphic intensity for which Keil became internationally recognized.

Rendered in saturated cobalt blue, acid green, vermillion red, buttery yellow, and deep black, the composition depicts a fractured female portrait with exaggerated hands and animated facial features — a direct nod to the legacy of Picasso while remaining unmistakably Keil in spirit. The painting possesses an extraordinary energy and spontaneity, with confident sweeping brushwork, thick contour lines, and a vibrant asymmetrical composition that gives the work tremendous visual presence.

Peter Robert Keil (b. 1942) emerged from the postwar Berlin art scene and is widely regarded as one of the most important German Expressionist painters of his generation. A protégé of artist Otto Nagel, Keil developed his highly personal visual language while living between West Berlin, Paris, and later Palma de Mallorca, where he became closely associated with an international circle of modern artists. His work has long been linked to the lineage of Pablo Picasso for its expressive distortion, playful abstraction, and emotionally charged figuration. Keil himself maintained a well-documented admiration for Picasso, and the influence is evident throughout his oeuvre — though always filtered through a far more visceral and uninhibited postwar sensibility.

The substantial frame further elevates the piece, offering a sophisticated architectural counterpoint to the expressive composition within. Its dark faux bamboo detailing and warm gilt accents lend the work a collected, gallery-like presence equally suited to traditional or contemporary interiors.

Housed under glass.
Oil on board.
Signed lower right.

Dimensions: [Framed] 47.5” x 67”

Condition:
Presented in very good vintage condition overall with minor age-appropriate wear to the frame and surface consistent with age. The painting displays beautifully.

Please Note:
Due to the scale of this work, this piece is available for studio pickup only. Local delivery within Toronto and Montreal may be arranged upon request.