Although his work appears modern, one slowly gets the feeling that it contains an archaic strength. Fortgens initially painted still lifes with beautiful realistic fruits and graceful female figures. However, he noted how the conventions of a profession influence a painting and how this can be oppressive - how creating artistic content and depth can get in the way of a sharp vision.
This inspiring and freeing thought of removal forms the centre of Fortgens latest works as it gives him the opportunity to do what he had dreamed of all his life - namely to paint what he feels inside. Progress in his body of works now mean to let go.