Paper

Student Artwork Guide

POWERLESSNESS:2

Thomas Riesner, 2022

Name Class Date
Thomas Riesner, POWERLESSNESS:2 (2022). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Thomas Riesner topimpressionists.com/en/artists/thomas-riesner/
Artist’s dates
1971 –
Painted
2022
Original size
41 x 30 cm
Movement
Abstract Expressionism Large canvases where the act of painting itself — the drip, the sweep — is the subject.

Copyright This work is treated as still under copyright. Thomas Riesner was born in 1971 and has no recorded death date; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 13, 2026

POWERLESSNESS:2 — Thomas Riesner Part 1 · The artwork

In context

POWERLESSNESS:2 — Thomas Riesner

How big is it?

The original measures 41 × 30 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1970
  2. 1980
  3. 1990
  4. 2000
  5. 2010
  6. 2020

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span, counting 0 from birth.

Painted when the artist was 51. 29 of the 53 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

▲ this work, 2022 every dated painting, decade by decade

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/thomas-riesner-powerlessness-2-D2PL45-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Black #0b0d17

    Catalogued palette

    • #0B0D17
    • #305B67
    • #E8F3E0
    • #80BF90

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Main colour name
    Black
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Discordant Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Thomas Riesner over the last twelve months — 2 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 85.7%
    2. 2 Germany 14.3%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 15 most looked-at works by Thomas Riesner

    1. 1 Arrive 2, 2022 17.6%
    2. 2 Shadow 1, 2023 11.8%
    3. 3 Soul Maze: 1, 2023 5.9%
    4. 4 Subsoil 15×21cm Ink ×paper 2022, 2022 5.9%
    5. 5 Dread 2 15×21cm Ink ×paper 2022, 2022 5.9%
    6. 6 Go in 1(1), 2023 5.9%
    7. 7 Nightmarish 2 15×21cm Ink ×paper 2022, 2022 5.9%
    8. 8 Soul Maze :2, 2023 5.9%
    9. 9 Feeling Faint 1 15×21cm Ink ×paper 2022, 2022 5.9%
    10. 10 Untitled, 2019 5.9%
    11. 11 Untitled, 2019 5.9%
    12. 12 Untitled, 2019 5.9%
    13. 13 Untitled, 2019 5.9%
    14. 14 IMAGE:21, 2019 5.9%
    15. — POWERLESSNESS:2, 2022 this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 53 works by this artist, of which 14 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 13, 2026

    POWERLESSNESS:2 — Thomas Riesner Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Thomas Riesner

    Born in Leipzig, Germany

    early life and the genesis of artistic expression

    thomas riesner, born in 1971 in leipzig, germany, embarked on his artistic journey in the early 1990s. this period marked the beginning of an intensive engagement with painting, which would eventually become the cornerstone of his oeuvre.

    artistic genre and medium diversification

    thomas riesner's work is intrinsically linked to the art brut genre, characterized by its raw, unbridled expression. his creative palette extends beyond painting, incorporating drawing, etching, and other mediums. this versatility not only showcases his technical dexterity but also underscores his innate desire for experimentation.

    notable artworks and their significance

    powerlessness:1 (41 x 30 cm, art brut, indian ink) - a poignant example of riesner's ability to evoke powerful emotions through minimalist compositions.

    transitoriness (41 x 30 cm, art brut, indian ink) - this piece encapsulates the ephemeral nature of human experience, a theme prevalent in riesner's body of work.

    untitled (20 x 25 cm, art brut, indian ink) - demonstrates riesner's propensity for exploring the abstract, often resulting in deeply introspective pieces.

    museum collections and online platforms

    while thomas riesner's work is not exclusively housed in a single museum, his art can be found on various online platforms. for enthusiasts and collectors, AllPaintingsStore's collection of thomas riesner's artworks serves as an invaluable resource, offering a comprehensive overview of his artistic trajectory.

    conclusion

    thomas riesner's oeuvre, characterized by its unflinching honesty and creative experimentation, solidifies his position within the art brut movement. as we continue to navigate the complexities of human emotion through art, riesner's work stands as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of creativity.

    visit thomas riesner's powerlessness:1 to delve deeper into his art brut expression.

    explore the thomas riesner gallery on AllPaintingsStore for an extensive collection of his artworks.

    discover more about thomas riesner's artistic world and the art brut movement through these resources: the museum collection hugo fischer (bühl, germany) thomas riesner | AllPaintingsStore

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for POWERLESSNESS:2

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/thomas-riesner-powerlessness-2-D2PL45-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Riesner, Thomas. POWERLESSNESS:2. 2022, https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-riesner-powerlessness-2-D2PL45-en/
    APA
    Riesner, Thomas (2022). POWERLESSNESS:2 [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-riesner-powerlessness-2-D2PL45-en/
    Chicago
    Thomas Riesner. POWERLESSNESS:2. 2022. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-riesner-powerlessness-2-D2PL45-en/
    Harvard
    Riesner, Thomas (2022) POWERLESSNESS:2. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-riesner-powerlessness-2-D2PL45-en/

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 13, 2026

    POWERLESSNESS:2 — Thomas Riesner Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    POWERLESSNESS:2 — Thomas Riesner

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 3 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: abstract figures, emotional distress, turbulent chaos. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at Fear 2 15×21cm Ink ×paper 2022 (2022), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 13, 2026

    POWERLESSNESS:2 — Thomas Riesner Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    How intense are the colors in "POWERLESSNESS:2" by Thomas Riesner?

    The colors in "POWERLESSNESS:2" by Thomas Riesner have a balanced intensity.

    Who is the author of "POWERLESSNESS:2", and in which movement?

    Behind "POWERLESSNESS:2" stand Thomas Riesner and the Abstract Expressionism movement.

    How does "POWERLESSNESS:2" by Thomas Riesner connect Abstract Expressionism to the artist's home country?

    "POWERLESSNESS:2" connects the Abstract Expressionism movement with Germany through its creator's birthplace.

    What color leads the composition of "POWERLESSNESS:2" by Thomas Riesner?

    black (#0b0d17) is the leading color of "POWERLESSNESS:2" by Thomas Riesner.

    What are the author and date of "POWERLESSNESS:2"?

    "POWERLESSNESS:2" was created by Thomas Riesner in 2022.

    How does "POWERLESSNESS:2" fit into Thomas Riesner's themes and style?

    "POWERLESSNESS:2" shares with Thomas Riesner's other works its Abstract Expressionism style and the recorded themes: recurring themes of struggle, exploration of inner turmoil, raw, emotionally charged work, pollock, kline, action painting, expressionist techniques.

    Where in Thomas Riesner's career does "POWERLESSNESS:2" fall, given its date?

    "POWERLESSNESS:2", created in 2022, belongs to the Mature Period of Thomas Riesner's career.

    Who created "POWERLESSNESS:2"?

    "POWERLESSNESS:2" is attributed to Thomas Riesner.