Informal art, in short Informel, developed in France as a counter-movement to geometric abstraction. It was given its name by Michel Tapié, who curated the exhibition “Signifiants de l’Informel” at Studio Facchetti in Paris in 1951. Overall, the movement is characterised by an urge for freedom – this is evident in the composition of the pictures as well as in the free use of materials. Within the style, various currents distinguish themselves, including Tachism, Art Brut and Lyrical Abstraction, which originated in France. There are various overlaps between the different styles, and parallels can also be found with Abstract Expressionism, which developed in America. French pioneers of Informel are Jean Fautrier, Wols (Alfred Otto Wolfgang Schulze), Jean Dubuffet and the Paris-based Hans Hartung. In addition to the artist groups “Quadriga”, “ZERO”, “Gruppe 53” and “ZEN 49”, important representatives are the artists Karl Otto Götz, Maria Lassnig, Peter Brüning, Emil Schumacher, Hann Trier, Walter Stöhrer and Fritz Winter.