Erika Roessing (1903–1977): The Loneliness of Things

Her extensive oeuvre of around 180 still lifes radiates tranquility and subtle colorfulness. Geometric surfaces structure the compositions, appear ornamental, and connect with travel impressions as well as favorite motifs such as apples, birds, and jugs. Theme and variation characterize the work of this rediscovered artist, whose last solo exhibition took place in 1980 at the Neue Galerie in Linz.

The retrospective at Lentos showcases around one hundred paintings by the artist, who trained in Linz (among others with Herbert Bayer) and Gmunden (with Franz Zülow), and later lived in Essen, Berlin, Stuttgart, and Gauting. At the center is the collection of 50 tempera paintings donated by Karl Rösing in 1979, complemented by early loans.

The exhibition presents Rösing's still lifes in dialogue with exemplary works by her husband and illuminates the artistic symbiosis of the couple.