Alex Katz

Alex Katz occupies a singular position in American art history. At a time when Abstract Expressionism reigned supreme, he dared to take the radical step back to the figure—but with a completely new interpretation. He established a visual language of absolute immediacy: flat, monumental, and possessing a distinctive, elegant distance. “Sasha 2,” from 2016, is the quintessence of this mature style.

The work depicts Sasha, one of his central muses, in the iconic reduction that has made Katz world-famous. He deliberately avoids psychological depth or narrative details. Instead, he focuses on the pure aesthetics of the surface: the light, the cut of the hairstyle, the line of the profile. It is a portrait that does not explore the inner life of the subject but celebrates her physical presence in space. This “visual economy” lends the image a timeless, almost architectural modernity.

Technically, we are operating at the highest level. For Katz, printmaking is not a byproduct, but rather the logical continuation of his painting, using different media. This lithograph on heavy wove paper captivates with its flawless color saturation and precise composition—a technical mastery that leaves no room for error. The impressive format of approximately 87 x 87 cm lends the work the necessary authority not only to adorn a wall, but to dominate it.

Following major retrospectives at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Serpentine Gallery in London, Alex Katz is now considered one of the "Great American Painters" of the 20th and 21st centuries. His editions are highly sought after by collectors worldwide, as they offer the essence of his work in concentrated form. With an edition of only 100 copies, "Sasha 2" presents a rare opportunity to acquire a work of lasting art historical value. It is classic American Modernism in its purest form.