Georg Baselitz

Georg Baselitz: Geschichte presents a new body of work that focuses on one of Baselitz’s most enduring and provocative motifs – the eagle or Adler. The exhibition brings together over twenty etchings and aquatints that depict the inverted eagle alongside other animals, such as the hare and the deer, as well as the artist’s most recurrent muse, his wife Elke.

The title of the exhibition, Geschichte, comes from the German word for history or tale. With this dual meaning in mind, Baselitz establishes a dialogue between two of his most famous motifs: the eagle and Elke, bringing them together in a new narrative (or Geschichte), whilst acknowledging the historical importance of both themes in his oeuvre.

Baselitz’s graphic work often interrogates both personal and political histories and is constantly engaged in a disruptive process of orienting and disorienting, challenging what defines traditional, symbolic or subversive picture-making.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a new book featuring an in-depth essay by writer and art critic Alastair Sooke. For all artwork enquiries please contact sales@cristearoberts.com.

Click here to download the press release

Opening Reception and Talk

6.15pm, Introductory talk
The talk will begin at 6.15pm and is a standing event. Contact rsvp@cristearoberts.com to confirm your attendance. 

Lunchtime Talk by Richard Calvocoressi

1pm, Thursday 12 February
Join art historian Richard Calvocoressi for a tour of Georg Baselitz: Geschichte. Contact events@cristearoberts.com to confirm your attendance.

Late opening

Thursday 5 February until 8pm
Join Cristea Roberts Gallery and other West End galleries for the spring 2026 edition of Art of London's Art After Dark. Drop in, booking not required.

“In each case, he depicts an eagle seemingly perching, rather than in flight, rendered with fluid, expressive lines and marks; characteristically, these resting raptors all appear upside down. (Since 1969, while often working from photographs, Baselitz has deliberately upended almost all his motifs.)

Thanks to this inverted orientation (offset by the sharp, ascending curves of claws and beaks), the eagles, with furled wings, resemble roosting bats – an impression enhanced by the colour of the ink.” 

"The calligraphic execution of these new and recent works – the result of Baselitz (who has been making prints since 1964) drawing with tremendous freedom directly on copper plates using a ready-mixed solution of ink and sugar – seems pointed."

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