Rune Hagberg
1970s
Mixed media, painted wooden frame
22″ 1/4 high x 16 1/4″ wide x 8″ deep

Rune Hagberg (1924-2015) was a self-taught Swedish painter at the forefront of Spontanism, a movement in Sweden which fell between Concretism and Abstract Expressionism. He was deeply influenced by Zen Buddhism, as is apparent in his meditative and deliberately simple work. His paintings were inspired by the fluidity and grace of Eastern calligraphy with character like shapes. To create his sculptures, like this one, he would coil and fold bits of paper and bind them with string, concealing the messages within.

Signed. In an artist-made frame.