Wolf Kahn:
Density and Transparency in Monotypes

On view November 24, 2017 through January 6, 2018

A significant member of the second-generation New York School, Wolf Kahn has achieved a position of influence and achievement as an intermediary between realism and Abstract Expressionism. His work is in the collections of over twenty-four major public institutions and has been exhibited internationally for over sixty years. He is well known as America's premier tonalist landscape painter.

Kahn was honored earlier this year by the Department of State with the 2017 International Medal of Arts. He was able to travel to Washington for his distinguished award celebration, and the one place he wanted to visit while in DC was the National Gallery of Art. One would assume that he would want to see the newly renovated East Wing and the many works by his contemporaries. The answer was no. He “knows those pieces well!” Instead, Kahn wanted to see his favorite paintings: The Feast of the Gods by Bellini and Titian and The Mill by Rembrandt Van Rijn. This visit was his homage to the majesty of the Old Masters.

The Feast of the Gods, with its complex composition and intense palette, has inspired Kahn's work for decades. The Mill encompasses the magical harmony of a stormy sky, using chiaroscuro light to convey the emotional impact of the quiet lonely mill. In the same way that Rembrandt explores composition and light, Kahn captures the solitary cabin in the Vermont woods with mystery and romance in his monotypes.

Wolf Kahn has stated that his favorite artistic medium is monotype. The combination of techniques showcases both his drawing and painting skills. He loves applying ink washes to zinc plates and then drawing over top with ink crayons. He also loves the transparency of the soft washes and their contrast with the density of thick dark inks. This exhibition features nighttime forest scenes as well as vibrant colorful abstracts. Please join us during the holiday season to explore these exquisite works of art.