Sale: 436 / Modern Art I, Dec. 10. 2016 in Munich Lot 230

 

230
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Kopf Ludwig Schames, 1918.
Woodcut
Estimate:
€ 35,000 / $ 37,800
Sold:
€ 41,250 / $ 44,550

(incl. surcharge)
Kopf Ludwig Schames. 1918.
Woodcut.
Dube 330 II (of III). Gercken 896 II (of III). Vertically signed in lower left. Hand-print. On wove paper. 56.3 x 25.5 cm (22.1 x 10 in). Sheet: 58 x 42,5 cm (22,8 x 16,7 in).
Printed as annual bonus for "Vereinigung für Neue Kunst" in Frankfurt. [CB].
Characterful portrait of Kirchner's friend, the Frankfurt art trader Ludwig Schames. This woodcut is considered one of the most important portraits in 20th century graphic art.

Mainly self portraits and woodcut portraits that count among the highlight of Kirchner's oeuvre were made during these years of unrest. A slight improvement of Kirchner's health began in late 1918. Free from the pressure of his fear of the war and with a large family around him at the mountain farm "In den Lärchen" his mental condition became more stable in the Swiss mountains. In December that year Kirchner executed the portrait of the Frankfurt art dealer Ludwig Schames on behalf of the Frankfurt Kunstverein. This work is one of his most important woodcut portraits. Kirchner presumably executed the expressive character study from his memories of the highly esteemed man, whom he had last met in November 1916. He worked the bearded face out of the wooden plate with dynamic, almost aggressive cuts. His contours are echoed in the female nude sculpture in the background, a hint at the profession of the depicted person. Since Kirchner had no printing press at his disposal he had to make the entire edition of presumably 180 copies by hand with muller and folder. This particular condition adds the character of a trial proof to every singly sheet, since they slightly vary in color application. No professional printer could have realized such an effect. The banker and art dealer Ludwig Schames (1852-1922) organized four large Kirchner exhibitions at this gallery in Frankfurt am Main in 1916, 1919, 1920 and 1922. After his death Kirchner wrote in an obituary: "This was the art dealer Ludwig Schames, a noble and altruistic friend of the arts and the artists. In a most generous manner he made life and work possible for me and many others. We loose a man as unique as a good father, a true friend, a subtle and understanding patron of the art of our days." (released in: Der Querschnitt, Berlin 1922, p. 156. Quote after Gercken, vol. IV, p. 86).



230
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Kopf Ludwig Schames, 1918.
Woodcut
Estimate:
€ 35,000 / $ 37,800
Sold:
€ 41,250 / $ 44,550

(incl. surcharge)