The artwork titled “Seraphim,” created by Anselm Kiefer in 1984, resides in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, NY, U.S. This figurative piece, rendered in mixed media combined with oil on canvas, is a part of the New European Painting movement.
The artwork presents a profoundly evocative landscape marked by the use of heavy textures and brooding color palettes. Dominated by a dark, almost foreboding atmosphere, the central image features a ladder set against a tumultuous background that evokes a sense of decay and transcendence. Organic and earth-toned hues intermingle with the starkness of black and the ethereal occasional light, creating a palpable contrast. The ladder, seemingly weathered and symbolic, extends upward, perhaps suggesting an aspiration toward the divine or a journey through turmoil. Overall, Kiefer’s use of mixed media brings a tactile depth to the piece, inviting viewers to ponder its intricate layers of meaning.
