Georg Baselitz's 'Descente' at Thaddaeus Ropac Pantin

Georg Baselitz presents forty recent paintings and drawings at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac in Pantin, accompanied by print suites at Catherine Putman. Titled 'Descente', the exhibition continues themes from his Venice series 'All the World's Futures': inverted, phosphorescent self-portraits on black backgrounds, now depicting anonymous figures descending staircases. Baselitz cites Marcel Duchamp, who allegedly borrowed the motif from Pablo Picasso. The artist reflects on Picasso's late works from 1970 and 1973 in Avignon, which were criticized for their scandalous subjects. Baselitz's technique involves two-layer painting, then applying thick white oil paint with a spatula, drawing into it with a calame-like tool, and obscuring the surface. Critics note affinities with Jean Dubuffet's 1950s experiments, Jean Fautrier's 'Otages', and the spectral figuration of Alberto Giacometti. Baselitz mentions Otto Dix and his wife Elke as recurring influences. The works evoke twilight or post-war survival, with pastel or burnt color schemes. Baselitz owns a version of Fautrier's 'Three Christs' (1927-1929). The exhibition runs until a date not specified; Baselitz turns 80 on January 23.