Born in Germany in 1945, Anselm Kiefer has devoted much of his career to grappling with the aftermath of W.W. II. His paintings, sculptures, and large-scale installations confront history, memory, and the enduring weight of the past. In the 1970s, Kiefer’s paintings often featured light blues, pinks, and whites. By the 1980s, his canvases had grown darker and more textured, ominous in both tone and subject matter. Last year, Kiefer went softer, unveiling a series of watercolors that celebrated spontaneity, ecstasy, and the feminine. He now brings a new body of work to White Cube’s London gallery. The exhibition coincides with his upcoming show at the Royal Academy of Arts, which explores the influence of Van Gogh on his practice. —Jeanne Malle