Preisvergleich, 2001

This edition by Sigmar Polke exemplifies his distinctive fusion of imagery, technique, and critique. In this work, Polke juxtaposes a halftone print of two figures with expressive, gestural layers of translucent blue and white paint. Overlaid with a web-like abstract form at the top, the composition becomes both cryptic and theatrical. The title, Preisvergleich (“Price Comparison”), hints at the absurdity of consumer logic and value systems, underscoring Polke’s ongoing critique of capitalism and visual culture. As in much of his later work, the piece blurs boundaries between figuration and abstraction, mechanical reproduction and painterly intervention, inviting viewers to question what is seen, known, and commodified.