German Relief Block Print No. 16 by Franz Hirsch

A German relief block print on paper by Franz Hirsch, signed by the artist, the print carries the tactile qualities that distinguish relief work from other forms of printmaking.

The composition centers on two faces turned toward one another, occupying a shared space that feels at once intimate and confrontational. Their forms emerge not through modeled volume, but through the language of relief printing. The deep black ground is the untouched surface of the block itself, while the figures are revealed through a network of incised marks cut away by hand.

The carved lines carry a vibrant roll of color across the image, shifting between mint greens, soft yellows, and turquoise blues. Applied directly to the matrix before printing, the tones move fluidly across the surface, catching in the chiseled grooves and creating subtle variations from one passage to the next. The result is a composition that balances graphic clarity with unexpected luminosity.

Franz Hirsch (1924–2010) was a German painter based in Munich whose work reflects the expressive spirit of postwar European modernism. Working primarily in oil, he developed a distinctive figurative style characterized by bold compositions, rich color, and an interest in the emotional qualities of everyday subjects, landscapes, and the human figure.

A founding member of the Free Academy of Munich (Freie Akademie München), Hirsch was an active participant in the city's artistic community and exhibited throughout Bavaria during his lifetime. His diverse body of work was the subject of numerous regional exhibitions, including a retrospective presentation at Galerie Entoderweder in Dorfen in 2009. Today, his paintings are appreciated for their painterly energy, strong visual presence, and balance between abstraction and representation.