Sophie, 2005
Published for the 51st Venice Biennale
Etching from two Nylo plates on Somerset rag paper, 75.5 x 57 cm (29¾ x 22½ in). Edition of 50, signed and numbered.
€ 2,000 € 1,200 / $1,350 shipping costs included
This etching edition by Thomas Schütte captures a quiet moment of presence through the simplicity of line and the subtlety of tone. The figure, wearing a hooded jacket and rendered with gentle outlines against a pale blue ground, appears both direct and introspective. With minimal gestures, Schütte conveys individuality and emotion, balancing intimacy with restraint. The subject’s calm, open gaze and the soft, almost ghostly handling of form evoke a sense of immediacy and vulnerability. Sophie exemplifies Schütte’s gift for portraiture that is neither idealised nor detached, but human, empathetic, and quietly monumental.
This work was published on the occasion of the Venice Biennale in the year Thomas Schütte was awarded the Golden Lion for Best Artist – a milestone that marked his international acclaim.
