Kleiner Reiter. 1959.
Bronze with black brown patina.
Clarenbach 211. Inscribed "KOENIG" on the underside. One of 5 copies. 41 : 21 cm (16,1 : 8,2 in). Fritz Koenig recurred frequently to the horse and rider theme. In the compact form shown here, it is so abstract that it is heightened to monumentality, a quality inherent in the motif. Koenig, however, sees rider and mount in an intimate fusion, almost as a centaur-like being, whose small head makes a disturbing impression. The corporeal aspect, on the other hand, is abundantly described and, in its repertory of compact forms, makes the core statement. The sophisticated treatment of the surface, however, mitigates any heaviness, counterbalancing it so effectively that even the fragile feet are justified in the static sense. These seeming contradictions in terms amount to a work that, apart from its consummate corporeality, leaves a great deal of visual scope for interpretation. [KD]
EXPERTISE: We are grateful to Dr. Dietrich Clarenbach, Gauting for his help in cataloguing this lot
PROVENIENZ: Private collection Baden-Württemberg (acquired directly from the artist).

In good condition.