Sigmar Polke on the Banality of Social Reality

Painted in 1967, Sigmar Polke’s Häuserfront perfectly exemplifies his subversive approach and parodic commentary on consumer society in post-war Germany. This painting marks the beginning of Polke’s explorations into the banality of social reality and image making. Using his painstaking raster-dot technique, here we see Polke’s interpretation of the Plattenbau buildings that had popped up all over Germany in the 1960s. Throughout his career, Polke infused his work with the weight of German socioeconomic context and its history. Hauserfront exemplifies his spirit of radical experimentation as it offers a glimpse into the seminal stage of Polke’s development as a painter. Sigmar Polke’s Häuserfront will be offered as a highlight of Sotheby's upcoming Contemporary Evening Auction.