MIA

Hermann Lederle, “MIA” (2002) Original oil and gold leaf on canvas and wood frame, 19 by 19 inches.  This one-of-a-kind painting from the artist’s ‘Figurative II’ collection features the artist’s use of gold leaf applied in grids that appear to encompass the expressionistic face within the pattern of golden pixels.  The wood frame is an extension of the artwork.  The piece is titled, dated, and hand signed on the verso by Lederle.
Lederle’s artistic process begins with an initial grid-like foundation.  On that, he layers an image, perhaps fish, birds, or human faces. The oil paint on gold leaf  has a dramatic effect.  The appearance of the  painting varies relative to the lighting in the room.  Indirect light brings the gold to the foreground and the painted imagery becomes silhouetted as if backlit, while in direct light the gold recedes, and the details of the figure emerge with more prominence, as if the light is inverting the painting as a whole.  The final effect is harmonious.

Hermann Lederle is a German-born resident of Los Angeles, CA.  His work has been widely exhibited in the United States in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Germany, Canada, Hungary, and France.  Examples of his work are also found in the private collections of Ringo Starr, Eric Stolz, Cal Zecca, Gabor Csupo.