The advent of new materials in the first half of the XX century has spurred innovation across many fields, including art. Those materials were soon experimented by the artists, and Willi Baumeister was very likely no stranger to that practice.

An interdisciplinary team, under the lead of Prof. Dr. Wibke Neugebauer, composed by conservators and scientists, is studieng the materials used by Willi Baumeister to outline whether and up to what extent synthetic compounds were replacing traditional painting materials in his activity. 16 paintings realized between 1930 and 1955 has been selected as representative of his artistic work. Material analysis by means of micro-invasive and non-destructive testing is being carried out to disclose the artistic material used. During an in situ non-invasive analytical campaign conducted in 2024 at the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart (ABK) and one in the laboratories of the Chair, the insiTUMlab characterized both synthetic and traditional materials in five representative works of the artist. The results will integrate the information gathered by colleagues of the Science Department at Doerner Institut, the Conservation Science Department of the Deutsches Museum, and Cologne Institute of Conservation Sciences through invasive analysis (funded by Schoof’sche Stiftung München). 

More information about the research activities, including Willi Baumeister, by the Conservation of Paintings and Polychrome Sculptures Department at the ABK can be found here.