Martin Engelman's (1924-1992) artistic career began in Paris at the end of the 1950s. Through international exhibitions, participation in documenta III and a DAAD grant, his path led to Germany where he held a professorship for free painting in Berlin. Engelman's expressive language of forms, his multilayered imagery and bold colorfulness are present in all periods of his oeuvre. His early work reveals an affinity to the CoBra movement: Mythical creatures and figures between human and animal populate these images. In the later works, nature takes on increasing significance as a source of inspiration.