31. 31AR ZDZISLAW BEKSINSKI (1929-2005) Untitled (Z-16) signed and inscribed 'Z-16 Beksiński' by the artist (on reverse) oil on panel signed and inscribed 'Z-16 Beksiński' (on reverse) oil on panel 122 x 97.5 cm. 48 1/16 x 38 3/8 in. The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Mr Piotr Dmochowski. Provenance Piotr Dmochowski Collection, Paris. Private collection, Paris (acquired from the latter in 1988). Bibliography J. Nadal, La pulsion de peindre, La toile et son inconscient, Paris, 2018, illustrated p. 218. Born on 24 February 1929 in Sanok, Poland, and died on 21 February 2005, Zdzisław Beksiński was a polymorphous artist whose enigmatic work continues to captivate the contemporary art world. Primarily known for his dark, surreal creations, his distinctive style is often associated with fantasy art, exploring new territories of thought where the rational rubs shoulders with the imaginary. Beginning his career as an architect, Beksiński quickly moved into painting and sculpture, becoming famous in the 1980s for his surreal and dystopian paintings, marked by strange and sometimes nightmarish visions. His dark, complex style explores fantastical worlds populated by strange creatures and distorted organic forms, while his dark colours and rich textures create a mysterious, hallucinatory atmosphere emblematic of his work. Here, Beksiński delivers a captivating and enigmatic work. A building resembling a Gothic cathedral rises up vertically. It seems to resist in a tumult of elusive elements, blurring all the viewer's visual bearings. Are we in an underwater world, where the water envelops the building and lifts up the sand at its feet? Or are we on land, where smoke and flames devour the structure under a threatening sky? The cathedral, mother of the origins, immutable temple of spirituality and inner life, defies the temporal world. The last bastion against death, it survives in a hostile, cataclysmic world. The life drive fighting the death drive is a recurring theme in the artist's work. This fascinating and disturbing vision leaves the viewer to face up to his or her own doubts and emotions. Beksiński's deeply psychological and emotional work combines horror with a haunting aesthetic, creating a unique artistic tension. With growing international recognition, exhibitions in several countries have consolidated his reputation as a major artist of contemporary surrealism. His work is on show at the historical museum in his home town of Sanok, Poland. He was also the guest of honour at the Salon du Dessin et de la Peinture l'Eau at the Grand Palais in Paris in 2018. His influence extends beyond painting, touching on diverse fields such as music, literature and cinema, with figures such as jazz trumpeter Tomasz Stańko, author Andrzej Sapkowski, and filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. The artist was also the subject of a film, The Last Family, directed by Jan P. Matuszynski in 2016. Beksiński leaves behind an intriguing body of work that transcends the boundaries of horror to reveal the complex beauty of his unconscious. His contribution to contemporary art remains indelible, leaving an undeniable mark on popular culture and influencing generations of artists to come. Born on 24th February 1929 in Sanok, Poland, and passing away on 21st February 2005, Zdzisław Beksiński was a polymorphic artist whose enigmatic body of work continues to captivate the world of contemporary art. Primarily known for his dark and surreal creations, his distinctive style is often associated with fantastic art, exploring new realms of thought where the rational meets the imaginative. Starting his career as an architect, Beksiński quickly transitioned to painting and sculpture, gaining fame in the 1980s for his surreal and dystopian paintings marked by strange and sometimes nightmarish visions. His dark and complex style explores fantastical worlds populated by strange creatures and distorted organic forms, while his dark colours and rich textures create a mysterious, hallucinatory atmosphere that is emblematic of his work. Here, Beksiński presents us with a captivating and enigmatic piece. A structure reminiscent of a Gothic cathedral rises vertically, seemingly resisting amidst a tumult of elusive elements, blurring all visual references for the viewer. Are we in an underwater world, where water envelops the building and stirs the sand at its feet? Or are we on land, where smoke and flames devour the structure under a threatening sky? The cathedral, mother of origins, an immutable temple of spirituality and inner life, defies the temporal world. The last bulwark against death, it survives in a hostile, cataclysmic world. The life instinct battling the death instinct is a recurring theme in the artist's work. This fascinating and unsettling vision leaves the viewer facing their doubts and emotions. Beksiński's deeply psychological and emotional work combines horror with an enchanting aesthetic, creating a unique artistic tension. With growing international recognition, exhibitions in several countries solidified his reputation as a major figure in contemporary surrealism. As such, his work is displayed at the historical museum in his hometown, Sanok, Poland. He was also the guest of honor at the Salon du Dessin et de la Peinture à l'Eau at the Grand Palais in Paris in 2018. His influence extends beyond painting, touching diverse fields such as music, literature, and cinema, with figures like jazz trumpeter Tomasz Stańko, author Andrzej Sapkowski, and filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. Additionally, the artist was the subject of the film The Last Family, directed by Jan P. Matuszynski in 2016. Beksiński leaves behind a corpus of intriguing works that transcend the boundaries of horror to reveal the complex beauty of his unconscious. His contribution to contemporary art remains indelible, leaving an undeniable mark on popular culture and influencing generations of future artists.