Vintage painting on Fabriano paper by Oscar Reutersvärd, Sweden 1934

Oscar Reutersvärd, Impossible Figures, Perspective Japonaise No. 331 Lithograph on Fabriano paper Number 48/100 The work has a title, number and signature of the artist Dimensions 76/56 Unframed work Oscar Reutersvärd (1915 - 2002) was a Swedish graphic designer who pioneered the art of 3D drawings in 1934. He is the creator of Impossible Figures, which may initially seem feasible but cannot be physically constructed. On the face of they appear normal, but they cannot be reproduced in three dimensions because the perspective is somehow distorted and therefore violate the laws of trigonometry. He is sometimes referred to as the father of an impossible figure. Reutersvärd studied at several painting schools. He was, among others, a student of Otte Sköld and Otto G Carlsund in Stockholm and Paris, and studied with Fernando Léger. In 1953 he became an associate professor at Stockholm University and then professor of art history with art theory at Lund University in 1964. In total, Reutersvärd produced over 2,500 different drawings. He created not only paintings, but also sculptures in which chains and other objects point towards the sky. He created his figures with India ink on Japanese rice paper, drawing by hand, without a ruler or other mechanical device. He usually used Japanese perspective, in which all parallel lines remain parallel and do not meet at points of visual convergence. The wobbly lines created during the ten-hour train ride between Stockholm and Lund are visible in some of his photos. The engravings were often colored with chalk. His works are exhibited in many museums. Reutersvärd's achievements were honored in 1982 with a series of three Swedish postage stamps. The stamps were made by Czesław Słania based on Reutersvärd's watercolors. Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper is molded, made of 100% cotton, chlorine and acid free, which guarantees long durability and stability over time. The paper is glued both internally and externally, due to which it is perfectly absorbent and retains its character, even when scratched. Traditional white, no optical whitening. Work in original vintage condition. Reference : 298315