Udo Claassen

Icelandic Landscape (The sun creates dramatic cloud pattern over a glacial lake)

1985

German artist Udo Claassen created a dramatic landscape of this Icelandic scene in 1985 in an edition of 40. The New Orleans Museum of Art has an impression of this image in its permanent collection. Claassen was born in Itzehoe in the state of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. He discovered the medium of mezzotint by studying a book on the work of master engraver, Yozo Hamaguchi and he learned the technique through his own experimentation. He has been working in mezzotint since 1978 although he considers his primary artistic pursuit to be drawing and painting. The artistic influences on Claassen have been C. D. Friedrich, Wang Wei and Ansel Adams. Claassen's work reflects the intersection between the traditions of both European and Asian art; they display tremendous power and depth that envelops the viewer --incomprehensible and completely natural all at the same time." Udo Claassen deepened his experience with the philosophy of Zen and Japanese art. Several stays in the Zen-Monastery ... re-shaped the artist's way of life and working. He strives to imbue his artwork with empathy, emotion, beauty and sensuality -- in short the soul of the work of art.