{"product_id":"1-copy-3","title":"L’Étonnée - Peter Robert Keil - 1970s","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA striking circa 1970s work by German artist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeter Robert Keil (b. 1942)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, depicting an abstracted female face rendered in sweeping black brushwork against a warm, neutral ground.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe composition is immediately recognizable as part of Keil’s distinctive figurative vocabulary. Large, expressive eyes dominate the face, while the elongated nose, abbreviated mouth and looping passages of line reduce the sitter to a series of confident, almost calligraphic gestures. The limited black-and-cream palette gives the work an especially graphic quality, allowing the rhythm and spontaneity of Keil’s brushwork to take precedence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBorn in Germany in 1942, Keil developed his artistic language within the postwar European avant-garde. Painter \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOtto Nagel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was an early mentor, and during his formative years Keil moved within a circle of German artists that included \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeorg Baselitz, Markus Lüpertz, Eugen Schönebeck and Joachim Schmettau\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Keil later spent considerable time in Mallorca, where he became acquainted with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoan Miró\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose freedom of line and intuitive approach to image-making proved influential. Keil’s own accounts also describe encounters with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose work formed part of the broader modernist environment informing his development.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy the 1970s, Keil had moved decisively toward the bold, expressionistic portraiture for which he became best known. Faces were increasingly distilled into exaggerated eyes, sweeping contours and rapidly applied marks, creating works that sit between portraiture and abstraction.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSigned by the artist at the lower left.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe work is beautifully presented in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecustom black wood frame with a giltwood inner border\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, an elegant contrast to the stark modernity of the composition. Presented under \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003emuseum glass\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, offering enhanced clarity and protection while minimizing reflections.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe combination of Keil’s expressive modernist line with the restrained black-and-gilt presentation gives the work a particularly sophisticated decorative presence—equally compelling hung independently or incorporated into a layered collection of modern and antique works.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtist:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Peter Robert Keil (German, b. 1942)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTitle:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLe Regard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Circa 1970s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMedium:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Mixed media \/ paint on paper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 20” W × 26” H, framed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrame:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Custom black wood and giltwood frame\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGlazing:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Museum glass\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSignature:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Signed lower left\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Very good vintage condition, with minor wear consistent with age.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Housebound Interiors","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50526858608826,"sku":null,"price":525.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0411\/7145\/2066\/files\/60A85FC3-DA3B-4220-95FD-2255DB58B48B.png?v=1790210127","url":"https:\/\/houseboundinteriors.com\/products\/1-copy-3","provider":"Housebound Interiors","version":"1.0","type":"link"}