Rückenfigur III stems from a recent series inspired by the Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich's sublime depictions of men overwhelmed by nature, such as the famous nineteenth-century work Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog. In Rust's painting, a solitary figure stands atop a rock while staring towards the waves crashing beneath him. Although the central character's clothing blends in with the surrounding blue sky, his downward gaze appears to be accentuated by the clouds that frame his upper body.
The artist notes, "The subject of this work is not the man, but [rather] his contemplation of the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean—all the history it holds, and all the cultures and stories it connects." For this limited edition series, Rust will add other objects or beings commonly found at the beach, such as birds, swimmers, boats and net motifs.
Tajh Rust
Rückenfigur III, 2026
24 x 20 inches
Archival pigment print
Limited edition of 10
Hand-embellished, signed and numbered by the artist
$950
Limited edition of 15 with 5 AP + 2 PP
Signed and numbered by the artist
$550
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