The widow of renowned Austrian painter Gottfried Kumpf has completed a comprehensive book about her late husband's sculptural works, fulfilling a long-standing wish of the artist who passed away in 2022. Guni Kumpf finished the project that her husband had been working on before his death, resulting in the publication "Gottfried Kumpf and His Sculptures."
Gottfried Kumpf, who lived from 1930 to 2022, was widely regarded as the quintessential Pannonian painter, despite being born in Salzburg. For 40 years, he made his home in a traditional farmhouse in Breitenbrunn, where the Burgenland region and its people became his primary source of inspiration. His deep connection to this area profoundly influenced his artistic vision and creative output throughout his career.
Kumpf became particularly famous for a recurring character in his artwork known as "Der Asoziale" (The Asocial One), a small figure that appears in almost every one of his paintings. This character has also been immortalized as a bronze sculpture. Contrary to what the name might suggest, "asocial" in this context is not meant negatively but rather represents a little man who exists alongside society as a solitary individual, separate from the mainstream.
The completion of this book held special significance for Guni Kumpf, who revealed that her husband had persistently encouraged her to finish the project. "He always wanted this and kept asking me: 'When are you finally going to finish the catalog of works?'" she explained. Since his passing, Guni Kumpf has found herself even more intimately connected to her husband's paintings and sculptures than she was during his lifetime, as she worked to document and preserve his artistic legacy.
The book was officially presented at the prestigious Dorotheum auction house in Vienna, marking more than three years since the artist's death. Few artists have managed to connect with and delight people through their work as successfully as Gottfried Kumpf did throughout his career. His unique ability to speak to viewers through his art made him a beloved figure in the Austrian art world.
An exhibition featuring Gottfried Kumpf's works is currently on display at the Dorotheum in Vienna and will remain open for public viewing through the end of December, giving art enthusiasts and admirers an opportunity to experience his creative legacy firsthand.
