Belgian painting & selected original art of the 20th century
Wolfgang Koch – Melancholic Scene at the Table, 1979
This oil painting by the Berlin artist Wolfgang Koch depicts a woman with reddish-brown hair sitting alone at a table. Before her are a glass of red wine, a burning candle in a bottle, and an ashtray—everyday objects that create a palpable emotional tension.
The scene is rendered in muted colors and thrives on a strong contrast of light and shadow. The minimalist, almost austere composition unfolds a quiet intensity. The work is a characteristic example of Koch's figurative magical realism and his psychologically charged genre scenes.
About the artist
Wolfgang Koch (1933–2007) was a Berlin painter whose work oscillates between realistic precision and emotional intensity. After training as a painter and decorator and graduating as a building painter, he turned to fine art.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Koch was a prominent figure in the Berlin art scene. His paintings often explore themes of human loneliness, urban atmosphere, and psychological tension in everyday situations.
Koch's paintings appear calm and focused—yet simultaneously unfold a subtle dramatic intensity.
