Arnulf Rainer (born in 1929 in Baden near Vienna)
is one of the most influential Austrian artists of the post-war period. He became known primarily for his overpaintings, in which he deliberately covers and transforms photographs or other images with bold brushstrokes. Rainer has consistently explored themes such as existence, physicality and spirituality. His work ranges from abstract to figurative and displays a strong emotional and gestural expressiveness. He was a co-founder of the Vienna Actionists and his works are represented in renowned museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Belvedere in Vienna. There is an Arnulf Rainer Museum dedicated to him in his hometown of Baden near Vienna. Rainer has received numerous awards and remains a formative figure in the international art scene.