Are You a Denkspieler, or Nichtdenker? A Thinker-player, or Random-mover?

German Chess Art

Adam Lude Döring (Dresden 1925 - 2018 Besigheim) is an artist, a Denkspieler, a thinker-player with the drawing pencil (German noun Denkspiele translates as brain game, puzzle game, intellectual game, mental exercise). He is a director of simultaneous scenes in which the seen and the imagined, the contemplative and the ironic are combined.

Döring is known for his distinctive linear and grid-based compositions, frequently incorporated themes and motifs that resonate with the structure and symbolism of chess. His work often reflects a playful yet contemplative approach to form and space, which aligns with the strategic and intellectual nature of the game.

One of the most direct connections between Döring’s art and chess lies in his use of grid patterns, particularly his signature "Hundertfelder" (hundred-square fields). These are compositions built on a 10x10 grid, totaling 100 squares, which he used as a foundation to organize his figures and shapes. This grid structure bears a conceptual similarity to the 8x8 chessboard, a space where pieces are positioned and moved according to precise rules. While Döring’s grids are larger and not literal chessboards, the idea of a defined, segmented plane as a stage for interaction mirrors the spatial logic of chess. His grids provide both constraint and stability for his figures—much like how the chessboard governs the movement of pieces—creating a dynamic tension between order and freedom.

Die Neue Frisur (The New Hairstyle)

Schach/Chess, 2002

Schach 2002

This artwork by Adam Lude Döring is a vibrant and dynamic example of his signature style, blending abstract forms, grid-like structures, and bold colors to create a sense of movement and interaction. The piece features a striking contrast between the two large, stylized human profiles—one in yellow and white, the other in red and black—positioned as if engaged in a dialogue or confrontation. These profiles, rendered in Döring’s characteristic linear and geometric approach, evoke a sense of personality and emotion, reminiscent of his fascination with human figures and their interactions.

The interplay of these shapes on the grid suggests a game-like strategy, with the pieces appearing to advance or retreat, creating a visual tension that mirrors the strategic and oppositional nature of chess.

Overall, this piece feels like a visual representation of Döring’s intellectual playfulness and his interest in the interplay between order (the grid) and chaos (the dynamic figures). It invites viewers to interpret the relationship between the profiles and the grid-based shapes, perhaps seeing them as players in a chess match or as abstract representations of human thought and interaction. It’s a thought-provoking work that showcases Döring’s ability to merge structure, color, and symbolism into a cohesive and engaging artistic statement.

Odyssee II

This artwork by Adam Lude Döring is a striking and dynamic representation of his fascination with chess, human interaction, and structured composition. The piece features three stylized human figures—two prominent ones in blue and beige, and a smaller figure in red—positioned around a black-and-white checkerboard, clearly evoking a chessboard. The figures are rendered in Döring’s characteristic linear, almost sculptural style, with elongated limbs and angular forms that convey movement and tension.

Is it a chessboard down left in this piece? The chances are as it is an 8x8 with a complex and unclear position.

Schach im Blauen Stuhl (Chess in the Blue Chair, 1992)

from Schach der Dame (A Check to the Queen)

Adam Lude Dörings book Gardez – Schach der Dame (Bilder vom Schach), is published in 1992 by Galerie Bayer in Bietigheim. It's a fascinating exploration of his artistic connection to chess, specifically centered on the theme of "Schach der Dame" (A Check to the Queen). This work, released in its first edition, is a catalog accompanying an exhibition and features 72 illustrations, primarily in color, alongside a few unpaginated pages of text. It’s a compact, high-quality publication, measuring 8° and bound in an illustrated linen cover with a chessboard pattern, reflecting the thematic focus.

The book showcases Döring’s chess-inspired artworks, which draw on the strategic and symbolic elements of the game, particularly emphasizing the queen as a central figure. His linear and grid-based style, often built on his "Hundred-Square Fields," is evident in these pieces, where stylized figures—such as profiles, hands, or abstract representations of chess pieces—interact within structured compositions. The title Gardez – Schach der Dame suggests a moment of tension or strategy in chess, with "Gardez" (French for "beware" or "check") and "Schach der Dame" highlighting the queen’s pivotal role, both in the game and in Döring’s visual narrative.

Döring’s approach in this book combines contemplation and playfulness, aligning with his self-description as a "thinker-player with the pencil." The illustrations reveal his interest in the intellectual and aesthetic parallels between chess and art, using the game as a metaphor for human interaction, strategy, and movement.

Illustration from Schach der Dame

Chessman. Aluminium and acrylic

You might have recognized from the Gardez - Schach der Dame inside cover this abstract sculpture of kinetic art. Döring has often incorporated geometric shapes, bold colors, and a sense of movement in his works.

The title Chessman is suggesting a connection to the game of chess, symbolizing strategy, competition, or intellectual play.

While the image indicates a static piece, Döring is known for incorporating kinetic elements in some of his works, where parts of the sculpture might move or rotate. Chessman implies a playful or strategic reference to chess, potentially hinting at movement or interaction, even if it appears fixed in the image.

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To wrap it up, the connection between Adam Lude Döring’s art and chess lies in his use of structured space, his playful yet thoughtful approach, and often his direct references to the game. His grids and figures create a visual language that invites viewers to see the world as a chessboard of sorts—a place where strategy, movement, and imagination intersect.

That's all for today chess Folks!