675 Kingdom of the Toro - Friedensreich Hundertwasser

A 1968 screenprint by Friedensreich Hundertwasser featuring mask-like faces and metallic foil accents in a bold, non-representational composition.

675 Kingdom of the Toro, created in 1968, displays the characteristic visual language of Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The work features a series of stylised, mask-like faces framed within architectural compartments. These figures, rendered with circular motifs and bold, expressive eyes, occupy a space that rejects traditional perspective in favour of a flat, decorative arrangement. The composition is dominated by a high-chroma palette, utilising saturated magenta, yellow, and green to create a sense of visual energy.

Hundertwasser often integrated metallic elements into his prints, and this piece makes use of foil embossing to add a reflective quality to the surface. This technique creates a contrast between the matte ink areas and the shimmering metallic sections, drawing the eye across the irregular, organic lines that define the forms. The artist frequently explored themes of human connection to the environment and the rejection of the straight line, which he viewed as unnatural. Here, the flowing, undulating lines that surround the central figures suggest a rejection of rigid geometry.

The work is a screenprint, a medium that allowed the artist to experiment with layering and colour saturation. The inclusion of specific numbering and stamps at the base of the print reflects the artist's meticulous approach to his editions. By placing these figures within what appear to be windows or cells, Hundertwasser invites the viewer to consider the individual within a larger, perhaps constructed, system. The lack of depth forces the viewer to engage with the surface of the print, focusing on the interplay of colour and the rhythmic repetition of the facial features. This print remains a clear example of the artist's ability to merge graphic design with fine art, producing a work that is both decorative and conceptually dense.