Red Riding Hood

Michael Rittstein studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague from 1968 to 1974. Rittstein is one of the most prominent Czech representatives of expressive figural painting. In addition to shape deformation and striking colours, fanciful hyperbole is one of the primary attributes of Rittstein’s painting. Over time, aspects first proceeding from the new figuration appeared in his painting while later his more expressive and elemental canvases capture the city, or rather blocks of flats, and all kinds of life and stories taking place there. Yet, these often monotonous situations sharply contrast with the form of Rittstein’s paintings. He uses abrupt spatial abridgements, extremely deformed figures with elongated limbs, and striking colours with impasto style.