The artwork titled “653 The Boy with the Green Hair” was crafted by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser in 1967. It is a linocut work that is attributed to the Transautomatism movement, which Hundertwasser developed. The genre of this piece is figurative, suggesting that it represents forms that are recognizably derived from life even if they are not realistically portrayed.
Upon examination, the artwork depicts an imagined figure, seemingly upside down, with prominent green hair that spreads out from the central region of the composition. The face is not shown, providing an abstract quality to the figure. The background is adorned in an intricate pattern of squares and rectangles that could be interpreted as an abstract landscape or environment, filled with a vibrant array of colors which are characteristic of Hundertwasser’s palette. A conspicuous red line bisects the subject, contributing to a sense of division or duality in the figure. The use of bold lines and color contrasts are a testament to Hundertwasser’s distinctive style, and the overall effect is one of dynamic energy and complexity. The figurative element, thus, serves as a vessel for imaginative and expressive exploration rather than a depiction of reality.
