Works on paper, 1972 - 1977

We are pleased to present a selection of early works on paper by René Daniëls, drawn from two private Dutch collections. This presentation includes a series of lithographs and etchings produced in edition during his formative years at the Art Academy in Den Bosch, alongside a significant large-scale work on paper from 1976 and a rare paper object. The latter two works date from the same period as Daniëls’ first major institutional exhibition at the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, marking a crucial moment in his artistic development.

Together, these works provide a rare insight into the early trajectory of Daniëls’ practice. The lithographs and etchings reveal his engagement with printmaking as a means of experimentation, reflecting both the influences he absorbed and his search for a distinct visual language. In contrast, the larger works on paper reveal Daniëls’ pursuit of a distinct artistic vocabulary, demonstrating a keen awareness of the prevailing artistic movements of the time while simultaneously asserting his own position within them. Among these, his depiction of the Remington typewriter stands out—not only as an emblem of artistic coming-of-age but as an early example of his interest in the interplay between everyday objects, cultural references, and visual ambiguity.

Born in Eindhoven in 1950, René Daniëls studied at the Art Academy in Den Bosch from 1972 to 1976, specializing in the ‘Free Graphics’ department. During this period, he developed an intuitive working process, often initiating his compositions through rapid sketches and color studies before translating them into painting and printmaking. His influences ranged from the pictorial strategies of Sigmar Polke and Georg Baselitz to the conceptual detachment found in the works of René Magritte. At the same time, his engagement with language and the visual pun aligns him with figures such as Marcel Duchamp and Francis Picabia. Daniëls’ early career was marked by rapid recognition: following his debut exhibition in Düsseldorf in 1977, he became widely regarded as one of the most innovative and provocative painters of his generation.

By the early 1980s, his work had gained international critical acclaim, with key participations in Westkunst (Cologne, 1981), Zeitgeist (Berlin, 1982), and documenta 7 (Kassel, 1982). Today, his paintings are held in major public collections, including the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Tate Gallery London, and the Van Abbemuseum Eindhoven. Following a stroke in 1987, Daniëls’ practice was abruptly interrupted, yet his legacy endures through the stewardship of the René Daniëls Foundation. Major retrospectives, including The Most Contemporary Picture Show (1998) and An Exhibition Is Always Part of a Greater Whole (Van Abbemuseum, 2012), have reaffirmed his lasting impact on contemporary painting. Since 2006, Daniëls has resumed making small-scale works, continuing his lifelong exploration of the intersections between image, language, and memory.