New Monumental Figurative Painting in Progress

I am currently working on a new monumental figurative painting in my studio. With dimensions of 450 × 200 cm (177.2 × 78.7 inches), the work is conceived on an architectural scale and developed specifically for large spatial contexts rather than conventional gallery viewing distances. At this stage, both the title and the narrative content of the painting remain undisclosed. What I am sharing here is a first visual insight into the work in progress — a moment where color fields, spatial structure, and emerging figuration are still in active negotiation. The image documents an early phase, before the painting settles into its final form. Working at this scale requires a fundamentally different approach. Decisions are driven less by detail and more by rhythm, proportion, and spatial tension. The figurative elements are not treated as illustrative motifs, but as structural components within the overall composition, interacting directly with color, surface, and architectural logic. As with much of my recent figurative and abstract work, this painting develops through layering, interruption, and reduction. Areas are built up, partially removed, and redefined over time. Figuration emerges gradually from this process rather than being fixed from the beginning. What matters most at this point is maintaining openness and internal tension. Sharing an unfinished work is a deliberate choice. It allows a glimpse into how a painting constructs itself over time — before clarity replaces uncertainty. Further details, including the title and completed imagery, will be published once the work reaches its final state. For now, this image marks the beginning of a new large-scale figurative work. Published on bertermann.art, the official website of artist Claus Bertermann.