Enrico Freitag: Painter on his way to work

Rutger Brandt Gallery presents Painter on his way to work by Enrico Freitag. Freitag's exhibition titled "Painter on his way to work" delves into both art historical discourse and his personal relationship with painting. Inspired by Vincent van Gogh's lost masterpiece from 1888, Freitag constructs a conceptual narrative that pays homage to van Gogh while immersing viewers in his own artistic journey.

“Painter on his way to work” is a painting by Vincent van Gogh which was presumably destroyed during an air raid on Germany during the Second World War, not far from Weimar, where Freitag lives and works. While initially appearing incoherent, Freitag’s chosen subjects - vibrant landscapes, introspective portraits, and carefully arranged bouquets - coalesce into a complex narrative that is a pastiche of van Gogh's work. Not only do these works echo van Gogh's artistic exploration, but they also offer glimpses into Freitag's world.

Central to the exhibition is Freitag's reinterpretation of van Gogh's “Painter on his way to work” where he creates a series of paintings placing himself as the protagonist – ‘the painter’ on his way to work. He paints himself walking through a cemetery or navigating a historic park that he encounters on his daily commute to his studio in Weimar, creating his own version of van Gogh’s painting. Furthermore, Freitag’s homage to van Gogh and Dutch art history is evident in his floral paintings, inspired by van Gogh’s sunflowers and Dutch seventeenth-century painters, and the infamous ‘Tulip mania’.

By skillfully incorporating van Gogh's legacy into his own artistic exploration and choosing Amsterdam as the location of the exhibition, Freitag creates a cohesive and thought-provoking exhibition that invites viewers to ponder the intricate connections between art, history, and personal expression.