Badende an der Alster. 1913.
Watercolor and India ink drawing on a postcard.
Inscribed in India ink on the reverse: "Sehr geehrte Frau Ihre Grüsse an Schieflers habe ich bestellt und soll sie herzlich erwidern. Es ist wunderschön hier auf ihrer Besitzung an der Alster und ich hoffe, noch ein paar Tage arbeiten zu können ehe ich an die Ostsee gehe. Leider vergass ich bei der Abreise, die Ihnen gewidmete Zeichnung abzuschicken und bitte nun Herrn Gurlitt darum. Die herzlichsten Grüße Ihnen und Ihrem Mann Ihr Erich Heckel ", adressiert an "Frau Dr. Glaser / Zehlendorf West bei Berlin / Hermannstr. 7", Postage stamp "29.6.13 Poppenbüttel Hamburg". 8.5 x 13.3 cm (3.3 x 5.2 in), the full sheet.

• Made during the artist's stay in Hamburg with the Schiefler couple in Hamburg, important patron of the "Brücke" artist.
• Bathers are a key "Brücke" motif.
• Fascinating contemporary document providing insight into the artist's private life.
• Heckel and the fellow "Brücke" painters nobilitated the postcard by making it in independent genre.

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

PROVENANCE: Collection of Elsa (1878/79 - 1932) and Dr. Curt Glaser (1879 - 1943), Berlin / New York (since 1913, directly from the artist).
Maria Glaser-Ash (1901 - 1981, second wife of Dr. Curt Glaser), New York (inherited from the above, until 1981).
Estate of Maria Glaser-Ash (1981- May 20, 1982: Christie, Manson & Woods).
Private collection Southern Germany (family property).

LITERATURE: Christie, Manson & Woods, New York, Impressionist and Modern Drawings and Watercolors, May 20, 1982, lot 134 with illu.

In good condition. With a few isolated rubbed spots with minor color loss. Bottom edge slightly crimped. Lower right corner and right margin with handling marks. With old mounting remains in corners on the reverse, paper here and there superficially skinned.