Portrait of a Lady in Red, 1950

Marie-Louise von Motesiczky’s (1906–1996) paintings can be categorized somewhere between Expressionism and New Objectivity. What is compelling about them is the new and independent conception, which lets their painter step out of the shadow of her teacher Max Beckmann (1884–1950) and her longtime companion Oskar Kokoschka (1886–1980). Motesiczky often created unsparing or sensitive portraits that always have an aspect of intimacy to them. Aside from portraying her mother, one of Motesiczky’s most important sitters was Elias Canetti (1905–1994), Nobel Prize winner for literature, with whom she had a love relationship that lasted over 50 years until the end of his life. Portrait of a Lady in Red of 1950 convinces with its radiant colors and an impressive play of light and shadow.

EF, 2021