Post-Modern Still-life Drawings and Watercolors

PRIKING Franz (1929-1979) Born August 7, 1929, in Mülheim (Rhineland). His father civil servant initiated him very early to artistic knowledge. 1939-45 During this pivotal period from childhood to adolescence, the war forever marks the young Franz. 1945-47 discovery of Expressionism, the movement that had been totally obscured by the official Nazi art. For PRIKING it is a true revelation and he will remain all his life faithful to the general principles of this School 1947 Father PRIKING dies 1948 He studied at the Bauhaus in Weimar and at the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts where he was a pupil of Max PECHSTEIN, one of the founders of the Die BRÜCKE movement. 1948-49 Meeting with Bertolt BRECHT who offers him hospitality for ten months and introduces him to Socialist Realism, which Franz completely cold, passionate that he was by a more innovative Art. 1950 Brief stay in Paris. From there he gained the south of France and settled momentarily at Villeneuve lès Avignon. 1951 First group exhibition at the Musée Réattu in Arles. 1952 With the money of a portrait he has just sold, PRIKING goes to Vallauris to meet PICASSO. He will stay there for eight months. The Master advises and encourages him by saying "You will be one of the best painters of your generation". Back in the region Avignon to Barbentane. Hard work. 1955 First major solo exhibition at the MOTTE Gallery in Geneva, then at DROUANT-DAVID in Paris in 1957. the exhibitions will then be linked until his death, in Paris, London, Geneva, Rome, Brussels, Strasbourg, Aix en Provence, Menton, Tokyo, Sao-Paulo, etc... 1958 Winner of the Young Painting Prize in Paris. 1961 Elected member of the International Institute of Arts and Letters of Geneva. The 1960s Settles in Oppède in Lubéron not far from Apt. 1972 Prize of the Mediterranean Union of Modern Art. Leonardo da Vinci Award. 1979 Mysterious death of Franz PRIKING...