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Victor Mira: "Beethoven Lebendmaske" (1993)

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TECHNICAL DATA SHEET Author: MIRA, Víctor (Zaragoza, 1949 – Munich, 2003) Title: Beethoven Lebendmaske (Beethoven's Life Mask) Year: 1993 Technique: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 70 x 60 cm Signature: Signed, dated, and titled on the back by the artist Excellent condition Beethoven Lebendmaske is a highly representative piece from Víctor Mira's mature Artwork, executed in 1993, a period of full international consolidation for the artist. The painting stands out for its imposing expressionist force and an atmosphere of profound mysticism and inner torment, guiding principles throughout his entire oeuvre. Technically, the Artwork is notable for its strong chromatic and luminous contrast. Against an absolute black background, a spectral face emerges, its reddish and fleshy tones alluding to blood, life, and suffering. The closed eyes evoke the introspection and isolation of the musical genius, reinforced by the title itself (Lebendmaske, the German term for a death mask made while the artist was alive). A golden cross stands out prominently on the figure's forehead, a recurring symbol in Mira's Artwork that blends the sacred with the martyrdom of the creator. To the right, three yellow orbs, with a dense, impasto texture, break the darkness and act as a compositional counterpoint, lending the scene an almost astronomical, liturgical, or metaphysical quality. The brushArtwork is visceral, textural, and direct, visible in the rich textures of the canvas. Mira uses oil paint not only to represent color but also to sculpt the pain and genius of the musician, creating a piece of great visual magnetism and psychological weight. Víctor Mira is one of the most singular, radical, and magnetic figures in Spanish contemporary art of the second half of the 20th century. Self-taught and unclassifiable, his career was marked by a strong connection to Central Europe, dividing his time between Barcelona and Germany (where he tragically died in 2003). His Artwork is heavily influenced by abstract expressionism, Spanish mysticism, and existentialist philosophy. In 2003, he was recognized as the best living Spanish artist at the ARCO art fair, and his Artwork is part of highly prestigious institutional collections, such as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS), the MACBA in Barcelona, and the IVAM in Valencia.

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  2026-6-12 19:25:00

 

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