Untitled [C85-139] 1985

Hannelore Baron constructed this artwork from fabric and paper scraps, likely in the mid-20th century, layering and collaging them into a quiet, compelling composition. The way the materials are handled speaks volumes: the frayed edges of the canvas, the stains and discolorations, they all hint at a history, a life lived. Look closely at that central ochre rectangle. It's not just a block of color, it's a field of texture, almost topographical in its variations. You can almost feel the artist working and reworking the surface, adding and subtracting, building up a kind of material memory. There is a real push-and-pull in the piece between flatness and depth. I’m reminded of Kurt Schwitters, or maybe even some of the Arte Povera artists. There’s a sensibility here, a kind of art that finds beauty in the overlooked. Baron makes something poetic out of seemingly nothing. And maybe that’s the point: the most profound statements are often whispered, not shouted.