Untitled (Seated Cat), Heinrich Mutter (German, 1939–2018), c.1970s, lithograph, 14×18 in, signed & numbered A.P.
Expressive original lithograph by German artist Heinrich Mutter (1939–2018), c.1970s, signed artist’s proof, depicting a seated cat rendered with raw charcoal-like line—an intimate example of postwar European figurative draftsmanship.
Artwork Description
This original lithograph presents a stark, introspective depiction of a seated cat, rendered with forceful, gestural black lines against an open ground. The animal’s form is built through dense hatching, angular contours, and deliberate negative space, giving the subject a psychological presence rather than a decorative one. The cat’s direct gaze, rigid posture, and simplified anatomy suggest watchfulness, tension, and quiet intelligence.
Stylistically, the work reflects Heinrich Mutter’s mature drawing-based practice, developed during the late 1960s through the 1980s, when he consciously stepped away from color to pursue drawing as a primary mode of expression. The lithograph closely resembles charcoal or crayon drawing, emphasizing immediacy, restraint, and the physical act of mark-making.
The print is hand-signed in pencil at the lower right and marked A.P. (Artist’s Proof), indicating a proof impression pulled outside the standard edition. The rough, energetic surface and uneven tonal density are consistent with Mutter’s commitment to authenticity and reduction, avoiding polish in favor of emotional truth. The subject matter—an animal rendered with human intensity—aligns with Mutter’s broader exploration of inner states through figurative simplicity.
Biography of the Artist
Heinrich Mutter was a German draftsman and painter born in 1939 in Germany and active primarily in southern Germany, including Freiburg and the surrounding region. He began his artistic career as a painter but underwent a pivotal transformation in the early 1970s, when he consciously abandoned painting as his primary medium.
In his own words, Mutter described painting as “almost a detour,” explaining that he had reached a point where color no longer allowed him to progress creatively. Feeling repetition and loss of motivation, he returned to drawing in its simplest, most direct form, a decision that defined the remainder of his artistic life. From that moment forward, drawing became not a preparatory act but the core of his practice.
Mutter’s work is rooted in figurative expression, executed with stark economy and emotional density. Using drawing, lithography, and related graphic media, he explored human and animal figures as vessels of inner tension, isolation, and presence. His style is characterized by raw line, compressed space, and a refusal of narrative embellishment, aligning him with postwar European expressionist traditions while remaining deeply personal and independent.
Between 1967 and 1999, Heinrich Mutter held 16 solo exhibitions, with additional posthumous exhibitions following his death. Two major retrospectives were particularly significant:
• 1989, Kunstverein Freiburg, Schwarzes Kloster
• 1994, Marienbad
These exhibitions offered comprehensive views of his drawing work and established him as a serious and respected figure within German postwar draftsmanship. On the occasion of the 1989 Freiburg exhibition, the Kunstverein published a substantial catalogue documenting Mutter’s drawing period from 1969 to 1989, featuring over 40 illustrations and multiple critical essays.
Extensive documentation of his work survives through 27 newspaper articles, essays, and 15 exhibition lectures, underscoring the intellectual and critical engagement his drawings inspired. Mutter continued drawing consistently until his death in 2018, leaving behind a body of work valued for its honesty, restraint, and psychological depth.
Heinrich Mutter (German, 1939–2018), Untitled (Seated Cat), c.1970s, lithograph, signed & numbered A.P., 14×18 in; expressive postwar European figurative drawing.
Certificate of Value & Authentication
This certifies that the accompanying artwork is an original lithograph by Heinrich Mutter (1939–2018), created circa the 1970s and measuring 14×18 inches. The work is hand-signed in pencil and marked A.P. (Artist’s Proof), consistent with authenticated examples of Mutter’s graphic work. The style, medium, and edition marking align with documented works from his mature drawing period. Valuation reflects current market demand for signed artist’s proofs by Heinrich Mutter, considering condition and provenance.
Provenance Chain (Collector Format)
Heinrich Mutter studio, Germany → European private collections → Mitch Morse Gallery (acquired via Europe & NYC, United States) → Artfind Gallery, Washington DC (current owner)
Citations / Research Sources
Heinrich Mutter official archive and writings: http://www.heinrich-mutter.de
Kunstverein Freiburg exhibition records and catalogue (Schwarzes Kloster, 1989)
Marienbad retrospective exhibition documentation (1994)
Published newspaper articles and exhibition texts referenced in Mutter’s archive
CAT - A Timeless Masterpiece by Heinrich Mutter
Step into the whimsical world of art with CAT, a captivating lithograph by the acclaimed German artist Heinrich Mutter, created between the 1960s and 1980s. This signed and numbered piece, designated as AP (Artist's Proof), boasts dimensions of 14x18 inches and is a remarkable finds from our vault of treasures—art collected and preserved from a retired NYC Manhattan gallery for over 40 years!
On the occasion of Heinrich Mutter's 100th birthday, we invite you to immerse yourself in a rare opportunity to own a part of his legacy. Known for his return to the fundamentals of drawing in the mid-1970s, Mutter turned his artistic vision toward pencil and lithography, a journey that ultimately reshaped his entire oeuvre until his passing in 1999. With roots as a versatile artist dabbling in oil, watercolor, and beyond, it was in drawing that he truly found his voice.
Mutter was not merely a creator within his studio; he was also a visionary who co-initiated and directed the artists' workshop at "Mehlwaage" in Freiburg, leaving an indelible mark on the art community. Owning CAT means not only possessing a stunning work of art but also embracing a piece of a storied history—a conversation starter steeped in the vibrancy of the 20th-century German art scene.
Don't miss your chance to add this exceptional lithograph to your collection. With its charming simplicity and rich narrative, CAT is sure to spark delight in any space it graces. Make it yours today and celebrate the enduring spirit of Heinrich Mutter!
Untitled (Seated Cat), Heinrich Mutter (German, 1939–2018), c.1970s, lithograph, 14×18 in, signed & numbered A.P.
Expressive original lithograph by German artist Heinrich Mutter (1939–2018), c.1970s, signed artist’s proof, depicting a seated cat rendered with raw charcoal-like line—an intimate example of postwar European figurative draftsmanship.
Artwork Description
This original lithograph presents a stark, introspective depiction of a seated cat, rendered with forceful, gestural black lines against an open ground. The animal’s form is built through dense hatching, angular contours, and deliberate negative space, giving the subject a psychological presence rather than a decorative one. The cat’s direct gaze, rigid posture, and simplified anatomy suggest watchfulness, tension, and quiet intelligence.
Stylistically, the work reflects Heinrich Mutter’s mature drawing-based practice, developed during the late 1960s through the 1980s, when he consciously stepped away from color to pursue drawing as a primary mode of expression. The lithograph closely resembles charcoal or crayon drawing, emphasizing immediacy, restraint, and the physical act of mark-making.
The print is hand-signed in pencil at the lower right and marked A.P. (Artist’s Proof), indicating a proof impression pulled outside the standard edition. The rough, energetic surface and uneven tonal density are consistent with Mutter’s commitment to authenticity and reduction, avoiding polish in favor of emotional truth. The subject matter—an animal rendered with human intensity—aligns with Mutter’s broader exploration of inner states through figurative simplicity.
Biography of the Artist
Heinrich Mutter was a German draftsman and painter born in 1939 in Germany and active primarily in southern Germany, including Freiburg and the surrounding region. He began his artistic career as a painter but underwent a pivotal transformation in the early 1970s, when he consciously abandoned painting as his primary medium.
In his own words, Mutter described painting as “almost a detour,” explaining that he had reached a point where color no longer allowed him to progress creatively. Feeling repetition and loss of motivation, he returned to drawing in its simplest, most direct form, a decision that defined the remainder of his artistic life. From that moment forward, drawing became not a preparatory act but the core of his practice.
Mutter’s work is rooted in figurative expression, executed with stark economy and emotional density. Using drawing, lithography, and related graphic media, he explored human and animal figures as vessels of inner tension, isolation, and presence. His style is characterized by raw line, compressed space, and a refusal of narrative embellishment, aligning him with postwar European expressionist traditions while remaining deeply personal and independent.
Between 1967 and 1999, Heinrich Mutter held 16 solo exhibitions, with additional posthumous exhibitions following his death. Two major retrospectives were particularly significant:
• 1989, Kunstverein Freiburg, Schwarzes Kloster
• 1994, Marienbad
These exhibitions offered comprehensive views of his drawing work and established him as a serious and respected figure within German postwar draftsmanship. On the occasion of the 1989 Freiburg exhibition, the Kunstverein published a substantial catalogue documenting Mutter’s drawing period from 1969 to 1989, featuring over 40 illustrations and multiple critical essays.
Extensive documentation of his work survives through 27 newspaper articles, essays, and 15 exhibition lectures, underscoring the intellectual and critical engagement his drawings inspired. Mutter continued drawing consistently until his death in 2018, leaving behind a body of work valued for its honesty, restraint, and psychological depth.
Heinrich Mutter (German, 1939–2018), Untitled (Seated Cat), c.1970s, lithograph, signed & numbered A.P., 14×18 in; expressive postwar European figurative drawing.
Certificate of Value & Authentication
This certifies that the accompanying artwork is an original lithograph by Heinrich Mutter (1939–2018), created circa the 1970s and measuring 14×18 inches. The work is hand-signed in pencil and marked A.P. (Artist’s Proof), consistent with authenticated examples of Mutter’s graphic work. The style, medium, and edition marking align with documented works from his mature drawing period. Valuation reflects current market demand for signed artist’s proofs by Heinrich Mutter, considering condition and provenance.
Provenance Chain (Collector Format)
Heinrich Mutter studio, Germany → European private collections → Mitch Morse Gallery (acquired via Europe & NYC, United States) → Artfind Gallery, Washington DC (current owner)
Citations / Research Sources
Heinrich Mutter official archive and writings: http://www.heinrich-mutter.de
Kunstverein Freiburg exhibition records and catalogue (Schwarzes Kloster, 1989)
Marienbad retrospective exhibition documentation (1994)
Published newspaper articles and exhibition texts referenced in Mutter’s archive
CAT - A Timeless Masterpiece by Heinrich Mutter
Step into the whimsical world of art with CAT, a captivating lithograph by the acclaimed German artist Heinrich Mutter, created between the 1960s and 1980s. This signed and numbered piece, designated as AP (Artist's Proof), boasts dimensions of 14x18 inches and is a remarkable finds from our vault of treasures—art collected and preserved from a retired NYC Manhattan gallery for over 40 years!
On the occasion of Heinrich Mutter's 100th birthday, we invite you to immerse yourself in a rare opportunity to own a part of his legacy. Known for his return to the fundamentals of drawing in the mid-1970s, Mutter turned his artistic vision toward pencil and lithography, a journey that ultimately reshaped his entire oeuvre until his passing in 1999. With roots as a versatile artist dabbling in oil, watercolor, and beyond, it was in drawing that he truly found his voice.
Mutter was not merely a creator within his studio; he was also a visionary who co-initiated and directed the artists' workshop at "Mehlwaage" in Freiburg, leaving an indelible mark on the art community. Owning CAT means not only possessing a stunning work of art but also embracing a piece of a storied history—a conversation starter steeped in the vibrancy of the 20th-century German art scene.
Don't miss your chance to add this exceptional lithograph to your collection. With its charming simplicity and rich narrative, CAT is sure to spark delight in any space it graces. Make it yours today and celebrate the enduring spirit of Heinrich Mutter!
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