No exoticism: Ruth Baumgarte’s Africa painting in the Albertina – visual arts

Ruth Baumgarte traveled to Africa a total of 40 times, even into old age the German artist visited countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, sometimes staying there for several months. In the 1980s in particular, she undertook such long-distance journeys – her largest body of work also dates from this period. She made sketches on site and only put memories down on paper and canvas following her return. The painter, who died in 2013, used color and light almost impressionistically and blurred people and landscapes in intense red, orange and ocher.