Beautiful August
A continuation of Jim Dine’s prolific summer.
Text by Olympe Racana-Weiler
After a summer spent on the West Coast of the United States, Jim went back to his studio in Montrouge—a return to painting and a series of bonsai drawings already underway. He arrived to a deserted Paris, happily enlivened by a visit from Felix Lehner and Sonja Schuerpf of the Kunstgiesserei St. Gallen foundry (Switzerland) and by discussions regarding the upcoming issue of Journal, a poetry publication edited by the artist and Vincent Broqua. Good food, good life.
There was also a wonderful trip to Apetlon (Austria) to visit the studio of Gabi Pechmann and Christoph Chavanne (Steindruck Edition). Together, Jim, Gabi, and Christoph celebrated ten years of collaboration—by printing, of course!
In just a few days, Jim produced a new set of editions and unique works—all centered on the theme of the self-portrait, displaying remarkable technical diversity.
This body of work, comprising about ten variations, grew out of an initial self-portrait carved into wood with a chainsaw in Montrouge. From there, Jim began to work: he applied paint and drawing directly onto the print; he carved two new woodblocks based on a similar drawing to print again and watch his subject re-emerge.
Ink and paint mingle, and—as is often the case—one wonders: how was this made? What was the first move?
Some prints in the series combine different types of paper collected by Jim from around the world. Indian and Korean papers are joined together before printing, blending their distinct textures within the image—roughness in one, fineness and crisp line definition in the other.
For one of the editions, Jim used an existing image: a reproduction of one of his paintings that was scanned, enlarged, and printed at Gerhard Steidl’s workshops in Göttingen (Germany). The image of a skull is instantly overlaid as the matrix passes through the press, imprinting the black lines of the face.
There is a constant interplay between printing and painting. From the printed matrix to the immediacy of the artist’s reaction, and from the collected, archived image to the reimagined subject, Jim Dine continually re-engages with technique, challenges the medium, and questions the image itself.
All of this is made possible by these exceptional printers.
Since 2016, Jim has worked with Gabi Pechmann and Christoph Chavanne, sharing a relationship built on trust and a rare commitment to excellence. He first came to their studio in Apetlon to create a lithograph—the self-portrait Me in Apetlon—in conjunction with his exhibition, I never look away, at the Albertina Museum in Vienna; he immediately recognized their high standards, and a partnership was formed. Since then, their story has unfolded through large-scale projects that often involve significant technical complexity. Examples include Painters and Poets in French (2017)—a 116.5 x 201 cm woodcut comprising 16 blocks printed on 640gsm Fabriano Artistico paper (edition of 13)—and Asleep with his tools Jim’s dream (2018)—a 185 x 355 cm woodcut made of five panels printed on 300gsm Canson paper and hand-painted by the artist (edition of 5). The printing duo hosts Jim two or three times a year, and their ongoing dialogue continues to push the boundaries of technique.
The works Jim Dine created this summer in Apetlon will soon be on view at the Cristea Roberts Gallery in London. The exhibition will present a selection of recent works created in the various studios where the artist works, showcasing the range of possibilities inherent to each location and the way the artist engages with them. Stay tuned—it’s coming in January 2027.
Last Chance To View
Jim Dine: Choir of Poems
On view through August 28, 2026
The exhibition features large-format paintings collaged with metallic fittings, which extend into the room and blur the line between art and sculpture. Another work, never before exhibited, is the series 49 Views on the North Crescent, where Jim used forty-nine used offset printing plates and created charcoal and pencil drawings on them. In addition to paintings and sculptures, the exhibition also includes a selection of art books, which Jim has been producing for over 30 years in his Göttingen studio in close collaboration with Gerhard Steidl.
Jim Dine: Choir of Poems
On view through August 28, 2026
Kunsthaus Göttingen,
Düstere Straße 7, 37073 Göttingen
Tue-Fri 2pm to 6pm
Sat + Sun 11am to 6pm
Price: Regular €8 / Concession €5
