Claus Bertermann – On Painting Between Landscape, Memory and Scale

Claus Bertermann’s work is rooted in the experience of landscape — not as depiction, but as memory, atmosphere, and physical presence. His paintings do not describe places; they evoke them. Working primarily in large formats, Bertermann explores the tension between control and intuition. Each painting evolves through layers: paint is applied, removed, reworked. What remains is not an image, but a state. Painting at Architectural Scale Many of Claus Bertermann’s works exceed two or even three meters in width. This scale is intentional. A painting of this size does not behave like an object — it becomes an environment. The viewer is not standing in front of the painting; the painting stands in front of the viewer. This relationship between artwork and architecture plays a central role in Bertermann’s practice. His paintings are conceived with spatial context in mind — private collections, galleries, and large residential interiors. Color as Emotional Structure Color in Bertermann’s work is never decorative. Muted greens, deep blues, earth tones, and occasional warm accents create a restrained but emotionally charged palette. Rather than defining form, color defines distance, temperature, and time. Some paintings feel like early morning light; others resemble the fading intensity of sunset over water. Process Over Motif There is no fixed motif in Claus Bertermann’s paintings. The process itself becomes the subject. Brushwork, erosion, layering, and pauses are all visible. The painting documents its own making — not as gesture, but as accumulated decisions. This approach places Bertermann’s work firmly within contemporary abstract painting, while maintaining a strong emotional accessibility. A Journal, Not a Portfolio This journal on bertermann.art is intended as an ongoing record — thoughts, works in progress, reflections on painting, exhibitions, and the spaces his works inhabit. It is not a marketing channel. It is a working notebook made public. New entries will appear regularly. Published on bertermann.art, the official website of artist Claus Bertermann.