Artwork

Göttin, Daniel - Malerei, o.T. 10

Göttin, Daniel - Malerei, o.T. 10, by Daniel Göttin, unspecified, 2016
Göttin, Daniel - Malerei, o.T. 10, by Daniel Göttin, unspecified, 2016

Göttin, Daniel - Malerei, o.T. 10 is an unspecified painting by Daniel Göttin. It dates from 2016 and is held in the collection of the Archaeology and Museum Baselland.

About this work

Overview

The arrangement suggests a structural inquiry rather than a representational image, emphasizing material presence over symbolic content.

Created in 2016 by Daniel Göttin, this untitled work consists of two unrefined wooden planks joined at an angle with visible nails. It is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography. The composition avoids embellishment, presenting wood in its natural, unaltered state. The arrangement suggests a structural inquiry rather than a representational image, emphasizing material presence over symbolic content.

Subject & Meaning

The work does not depict a figure or scene but instead isolates the physicality of reclaimed timber. The juxtaposition of warm brown and pale, weathered wood invites attention to natural variation and human intervention. The angled assembly implies tension or instability, yet the lack of narrative context leaves interpretation open—focused on the object’s material history rather than metaphorical meaning.

Technique & Style

Göttin employs raw, unsanded wood with intact grain and knots, preserving evidence of its origin and use. Nails are left exposed as functional elements, not concealed finishes. The contrast between the two timber tones enhances the geometric form without added pigment or texture. The style rejects decorative refinement, aligning with minimalist and material-focused practices that prioritize authenticity over illusion.

History & Provenance

The work entered the Museum of Ethnography’s collection shortly after its creation in 2016. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s interest in contemporary objects that engage with material culture and non-traditional art forms. No prior ownership or exhibition history is documented beyond its inclusion in the museum’s permanent holdings.

Context

This piece emerges from a broader artistic trend in the 2010s that re-examined everyday materials as carriers of cultural and physical memory. While not tied to a specific movement, its aesthetic resonates with post-minimalist and object-based practices that value process and material truth. Its placement in an ethnographic museum situates it within dialogues about craft, labor, and the anthropology of objects.

Legacy

The work contributes to an ongoing reconsideration of wood as a medium with intrinsic narrative potential. Its quiet presence in the museum collection encourages viewers to reflect on the overlooked aesthetics of discarded or utilitarian materials. It remains a quiet example of how simplicity can prompt deeper engagement with the physical world.

Artist & collection

Artist

Daniel Göttin

Daniel Göttin painted spare, untitled canvases that feel quiet and open. His works in this set—*Painting, Untitled 9* and *Painting, Untitled 10*—are all about the relationship between thin color fields and the raw…