We do business

Visual Description

A two-part stage: above, an iconically stylized figure in black and red in front of a dense skyline, arms outstretched, banknotes in the right hand. Lettering (“WE DO Business”) and small drawn symbols accompany the scene. Below, a row of bald figures with neck rings drift as if through water; beside them, words such as “everyday” and “drama we do.” Warm rust, ocher and gray tones meet cool areas of blue—painting, typography and drawing interlock.

Artistic Interpretation

The work confronts glamour and dependency: above, the staging of power, profit and spectacle; below, the silent procession of the nameless. Between seduction and isolation, a commentary emerges on roles, market logic and the question of what visibility costs. The gesture of the upper figure opens the picture space—the bodies below close it with a heavy rhythm.

Art-Historical Context

In content, the work links elements of socially critical figuration with the strategies of Pop and street aesthetics: fragments of text, symbols and an urban skyline recall the traditions of posters and murals; the clear typography and iconic red and black refer to the political visual languages of the twentieth century, updated into a contemporary mixed-media look.

Exclusivity

A one-of-a-kind work with striking pictorial direction: carefully modulated figure painting, typographic elements and drawn interventions form a multilayered narrative surface. The two-part structure—stage above, procession below—is compositionally strong and bears Graf’s unmistakable signature style.

Collector Value

A thought-provoking statement piece about power, work and staging—substantial in content and curatorially versatile. Ideal for foyers, agencies, law firms, educational and cultural spaces, and collections that emphasize social themes in contemporary figurative painting.

More About the Artist

Christine Graf is a contemporary painter who combines classical techniques with modern expressiveness; her portraits, abstract and surreal works draw their strength from intense color and an unmistakable coloristic signature.

Internationally present since the 1990s and represented in collections, she is one of the distinctive voices in contemporary painting.

Condition Report

Condition: no visible defects. A detailed condition report is available on request.