Although the works of painter Christoph Ruckhaberle have been compared with those of George Grosz and Max Beckman, his paintings bridge the gap between the past and the present - his relationship with tradition is full of ambiguity. Classical motifs are subverted by figures that break the traditional form, thematically as well as technically. Although perspective is present in his work, one cannot escape the feeling that the background is as flat as the canvas. Like a set piece for a film production, it serves no purpose besides acting as a backdrop for the depicted subjects. His paintings dissolve space and time; they are mysterious and seem hermetically closed around themselves, only slowly giving away their meaning. Ruckhaberle, who studied in Leipzig, has won several prizes and awards in recent years. This catalogue documents Ruckhaberle's artistic development from 2002 - 2005 and is accompanied by a text from Hans-Werner Schmidt, Director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Leipzig.