Sonnenblume (Sunflower)

Visual Description

“Sonnenblume” is a narrow vertical painting. A single sunflower stands on a long, slightly curved stem, its head bowed. The petals are curled and wilting, and the flower is painted in black, white and gray, with a dark center and bright highlights on the tips of the petals.

The background consists of vertical, smeared bands of turquoise, brown and gray. Four horizontal strokes of fluorescent yellow cross the flower head, starting at the bloom and running to the right into the picture space.

Artistic Interpretation

Hübner shows the sunflower not in full bloom but as it fades. The color associated with this plant has been taken from it and returns only as an abstract line. The yellow strokes read like a memory of light and warmth.

The result is a quiet painting about time and change. The flower’s lowered head can be read as a posture: withdrawal, exhaustion, but also dignity in decline. The work thus links a motif from nature with an inner state.

Art-Historical Context

The flower as a symbol of transience is a central motif of Dutch vanitas painting. Vincent van Gogh also painted sunflowers cut and wilted. Hübner continues this tradition with a reduced palette and a graphic, contemporary intervention.

Exclusivity

“Sonnenblume” is a unique work in acrylic on canvas, measuring 80 × 40 cm. It contains UV-reactive paint; under black light the yellow lines and parts of the background emerge as a second layer.

The work belongs to the series “Natur” (Nature), together with “Rose” and “Roter Mohn,” and to the group “Inner States.”

Collector Value

The narrow format suits wall spaces beside doors and windows, in hallways or in smaller rooms. Together with “Rose,” it can be hung as a pair from the series.

Shown in 2026 at Favori Art GENESIS 1 and at the Cosy Festival at Schloss Dornburg, “Sonnenblume” offers an accessible entry point into Hübner’s work.

More About the Artist

Matthias Hübner (b. 1976) combines high-contrast figuration with intense color and an open, psychologically charged visual language in modern surrealistic realism. People, emotions and different levels of perception are at the center of his work. Since returning to painting in 2020, he has continued to develop his artistic position experimentally.

Early awards at the GDR youth painting competition in 1989 and the European painting competition in 1993, along with international recognition in recent years, mark his artistic development.

Condition Report

Very good condition; no visible defects. A detailed condition report is available on request.

Exhibitions and Awards

2026: Favori Art GENESIS 1, Gleina, Germany

2026: Cosy Festival, Schloss Dornburg, Dornburg (Elbe), Germany