Arc Noir

“Arc Noir" is one of 26 paintings that make up the “Grey Series” (1985-88) by Wolfgang Lettl.

The basic concept of each painting is the framing box. An image supposedly painted on paper is stuck to its back. Various objects are lying on the frame.
Different variations of a classic style element of surrealism are used experimentally in this series: Paint objects that don't go together in an unreal space, and you will get surprising compositions that may be more or less meaningful.

Wolfgang Lettl wrote this about this painting:

When a shoe brush meets a triumphal arch you would have to assume that the shoe brush is meaningless.
And when a king meets a beggar, or a philosopher an idiot, there is a similar imbalance.
Who sets the standards?
In my painting I like the shoe brush much better, because a smell of usefulness adheres to it.
It smells of shoe polish.
It is closer to me.