(Vienna 1914–1995) ‘Adam Billard’, signed and dated, R. Hausner 76, acrylic, coloured resin, paper on Novopan board, 65 x 77.5 cm, framed, (K)

Hans Holländer, Rudolf Hausner, Werkmonographie, Edition Volker Huber, Offenbach am Mayn, 1985, p. 265, no. 83 (with ill.) Exhibited and illustrated in the catalogue: Rudolf Hausner, Künstlerhaus Vienna,1980, plate 54 (full-page colour ill.) Provenance: Galerie Levy, Hamburg (label on the reverse); private ownership, Germany Text by Rudolf Hausner from the above-mentioned Künstlerhaus catalogue: All Adam pictures are mirror images. They were painted with the aid of a mirror and wish to be used as a mirror. Although all Adam pictures have the facial features of Rudolf Hausner, their usability for the experiencing of the self is not limited to him; rather all Adam situations depicted are of a generalised nature. The individuality of the physiognomy of each individual observed by means of the directness of the exactitude of the reporting cannot be avoided. The general applicability of the experience gained is not impaired because of it. In the interests of continuous on-going reproduction Adam has been made bi-gendered in nature. He is as much man-woman as he is woman-man. The Adam pictures presented in this book are observations from the viewpoint of a male-accentuated Adam being, which does not understand his female aspect to be his opposite, but as part of his own existence. When looking at the mirror images, it is recommended that one is patient with oneself, so that the projection and introjections mechanisms initiated by the pictures can start to take effect.