The artwork, titled “Polke as Astronaut (Polke Als Astronaut),” was created by Sigmar Polke in 1968. It is part of the Pop Art movement and New European Painting, and is classified within the figurative genre.
“Polke as Astronaut” depicts a whimsical and surreal scene dominated by a stylized, large green shape with simplistic facial features resembling a smiley face. The background is populated with repeating images of astronauts tethered to spacecraft, and globes adorned with red trajectories, evoking themes of space exploration. The vibrant and bold use of color and repetitive patterns are characteristic of the Pop Art movement, reflecting Polke’s unique approach to figurative art during that era.
