Neo Rauch was born in Leipzig in 1960, where he still lives today. He is one of the most original artists of his generation. His paintings appear disturbingly detached and familiar, for their figures, objects, and mood seem to come from old advertising posters, dusty book covers, or forgotten comics. Rauch's formulistic visual symbols suggest a more profound meaning, yet it is difficult to decipher their message. The tension lurking under the almost frozen surface is fueled by paradox. As vivid as the structure of the work comes across, the impression is rigid. As powerful as the broken colors are, they appear faded, of yesterday. In 2002, Neo Rauch received "The Vincent"-The Vincent van Gogh Award for Contemporary Art-in Maastricht. This publication marks the presentation of this award and is the first monograph on the artist, with sixty-five works from 1993 to 2002.