Zauberkünstler. 1952.
Watercolor.
Reverse inscribed "bestätigt Siddi M. Heckel" by Siddi Heckel and with the estate stamp. On laid paper. Ca. 28 x 16 cm (11 x 6.2 in), size of sheet.
[AR].
• Self-portrait as magician.
• Erich Heckel uses the motif in several works, depicting the magician with different facial features, like those of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (cf. SHG no. 582) or Paul Klee (cf. Hüneke 1954-2).
• The equalization of artist and magician allegorizes the artistic transformation of reality and how artists enchant their audience.

The work is registered in the archive of the Erich Heckel Estate, Hemmenhofen on Lake Constance. We are grateful to Mrs Renate Ebner and Mr Hans Geissler for their kind support in cataloging trhis lot.

PROVENANCE: Artuist's estate.
Hermann Gerlinger Collection, Würzburg (with the collector's stamp, Lugt 6032).

EXHIBITION: Erich Heckel 1883-1970. Aquarelle, Zeichnungen, Ausstellung zum 100. Geburtstag des Malers, Städtische Galerie, Würzburg, July 3 - September 11, 1983, cat. no. 102.
Schleswig-Holsteinisches Landesmuseum, Schloss Gottorf, Schleswig (permanent loan from the Hermann Gerlinger Collection, 1995-2001).
Kunstmuseum Moritzburg, Halle an der Saale (permanent loan from the Hermann Gerlinger Collection, 2001-2017).
Erich Heckel, Einfühlung und Ausdruck, Buchheim Museum, Bernried, Ocotber 31, 2020 - March 7, 2021, extended until June 20, 2021 (with colro illu. on p. 374).
Buchheim Museum, Bernried (permanent loan from the Hermann Gerlinger Collection, 2017-2022).

LITERATURE: Heinz Spielmann (ed.), Die Maler der Brücke. Sammlung Hermann Gerlinger, Stuttgart 1995, p. 344, SHG no. 554 (with color illu.).
Hermann Gerlinger, Katja Schneider (eds.), Die Maler der Brücke. Inventory catalog Hermann Gerlinger Collection, Halle (Saale) 2005, p. 257, SHG no. 581 (with color illu.).

In good condition consistent of the age. With a horizontal kink running through the entire length of the upper edge and with a small kink in bottom left. With small splits and losses along the margin owing to the hand papermaking. All in all with small brown stains and unobtrusive waterstains above and below the image.