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Jörg Immendorff — Nachtwache
Jörg Immendorff

Nachtwache

1982

This densely composed oil painting presents a nighttime scene populated by multiple figures engaged in various activities within an urban environment. The composition is characterized by a dark, theatrical palette dominated by blacks, blues, and earth tones, with accents of bright color that draw the eye across the canvas. Figures appear fragmented and overlapping, some rendered in grotesque or exaggerated forms, creating a sense of social commentary and psychological intensity. The work employs expressionist techniques with gestural brushwork and distorted proportions, suggesting themes of urban chaos, social interaction, and perhaps moral or political critique. The nocturnal setting and crowded arrangement evoke the energy and alienation of modern city life.

Medium
oil on canvas
Overall

Notes

Contemporary Day Auction, Sotheby's, sale on 2026-05-15.

🔨 Auction Lot

Contemporary Day Auction

May 15, 2026

Estimate: $80,000$120,000

For Sale

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About this work

Jörg Immendorff, Nachtwache, 1982

This densely composed oil painting presents a nighttime scene populated by multiple figures engaged in various activities within an urban environment. The composition is characterized by a dark, theatrical palette dominated by blacks, blues, and earth tones, with accents of bright color that draw the eye across the canvas. Figures appear fragmented and overlapping, some rendered in grotesque or exaggerated forms, creating a sense of social commentary and psychological intensity. The work employs expressionist techniques with gestural brushwork and distorted proportions, suggesting themes of urban chaos, social interaction, and perhaps moral or political critique. The nocturnal setting and crowded arrangement evoke the energy and alienation of modern city life.

Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 281.9 x 330.2 cm
Year
1982
Seen at
Sotheby's, New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris

Related themes

Postmodern Art, Crowd Dynamics, Urban Energy, Modern City, Contemporary Oil, Psychological Intensity, Moral Ambiguity, Human Interaction, Dark Palette, Theatrical Lighting, Political Critique, Social Commentary, Grotesque Figures, Gestural Abstraction, Expressionist Style, Nighttime Setting, Night Life, Figurative Composition, Fragmented Forms, Urban Scene

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