#rudolphbauer — Public Fediverse posts
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"Composition with Red Circle," Rudolph Bauer, 1930.
German born Bauer (1889-1953) was a pioneer of Abstract art (or "Non-Objective Art" as it was known at the time). Early in his career, he was involved in Der Strum, a Berlin-based magazine centered on modern art, and the artists' circle that surrounded it.
About the time this was painted, he met American collector Solomon Guggenheim, who was fascinated by abstract art, and sought to open a museum. Guggenheim bought a number of his works, which were exhibited in the US.
Bauer was imprisoned by the Gestapo for several months in 1938, for creating "degenerate art", but friends managed to obtain his release and he reluctantly left German for the US just as WWII began.
In the US, he was patronized by Guggenheim, although it's clear he was being exploited by Guggenheim's foundation, expected to turn over all future work to them. He simply stopped painting at that point. When the Guggenheim museum finally opened in 1959, none of Bauer's work was exhibited and he was largely forgotten until a retrospective exhibit in Germany, followed by more exhibits, and finally being featured by the Guggenheim.
From a private collection.