A.R. Penck, born Ralf Winkler in Dresden, was a versatile German artist - painter, printmaker, sculptor, and jazz musician. He developed a distinctive visual language of stylized "stick‑figure" figures and symbols, inspired by cave paintings, graffiti, and primitive sign systems. Through his "Standart" concept, he combined simplicity with meaning to explore social, political, and existential themes. After emigrating from the GDR in 1980, Penck became a key figure in Western neo‑expressionism and exhibited at Documenta, the Venice Biennale, and numerous international shows. His oeuvre spans paintings, prints, and bronze sculptures, marked by a powerful, universal iconography.