Wagon/Bache 31 RV

The Wagon/Bache 31 RV tapestry reflects the distinctive visual language of Peter Klasen, an artist closely associated with the movement of Narrative Figuration that emerged in France during the 1960s. Born in Germany in 1935 and later active in Paris, Klasen developed a body of work centered on the imagery of industrial infrastructure. His paintings often incorporate elements drawn from machinery, transport systems, and urban signage, transforming functional objects into striking visual compositions.

In Wagon/Bache 31 RV, the imagery evokes the surfaces and structures of industrial transport. Bold graphic forms and mechanical references suggest the side of a freight wagon or a covered transport container, where lettering, numbers, and structural elements become the central components of the composition. Rather than depicting a literal scene, Klasen isolates fragments of industrial design and presents them with a clarity that emphasizes their geometry and visual rhythm.

Handwoven in wool by Atelier 3 in Paris, the tapestry translates Klasen’s crisp, highly controlled visual style into a textured medium. The workshop’s weaving techniques allow subtle variations in tone and fiber density to reproduce the smooth surfaces and metallic reflections characteristic of the artist’s work. Through careful gradation and linear patterning, the weavers capture the tension between mechanical precision and the softness of woven material.

At an impressive architectural scale, the Wagon/Bache 31 RV tapestry functions almost as a mural, commanding the space it occupies. The composition’s strong lines and industrial references create a powerful visual presence, transforming the language of machinery and transport into a monumental woven image.