Else Lasker-Schüler. Theben. Lot n° 548

Poems and lithographs. Frankfurt a.M. and Berlin, cross section publishing house 1923. With ten coloured signed lithographs and 13 pages of lithographed text. Original blue cloth binding with gilded illustration on the front cover and the signet of Galerie Flechtheim on the back cover. 24th print by Galerie Flechtheim. - One of the artist's copies that Else Lasker-Schüler von Flechtheim received as "payment" (she complained about it later in "Ich räume auf!"). Here instead of a numbering designated by the poetess as copy "k" and like the preferential copies with coloured lithographs (total edition 250), three lithographs with title completed by hand, partly in reference to the recipient of this copy, one lithograph with collaged silver and gold foil. - Not only the ten lithographs but also the printing note was signed by Else Lasker-Schüler. - Printed by A. Ruckenbrod, Berlin, after the drawings and the handwriting of the artist. - Printed and bound as block book. - In the unity of image and writing, its spontaneously appearing design and yet bibliophile layout, "Thebes" is a highlight of Expressionist book art. - "The ten poems, which are among the poet's most beautiful, come from various earlier collections and are closely connected with her family and circle of friends. [...] The most important figures who populate the artist's private fantasy world move through the work in text and image, drawn in quick, nervous, idiosyncratic features in silhouettes that have distanced themselves from reality. (paper chants). - With a dedication sheet from the previous owner, the Munich writer Elisabeth von Schmidt-Pauli, to the mutual acquaintance Olga Sternberg: "Olli [ my value object, painted by her herself to me [...]" (see the following cat.-no.). 32.5 : 25.0 cm. [28] Pages. - Front cover slightly wavy at margin, capital slightly rubbed. Raabe/Hannich-Bode 182.15. - Jentzsch 136th - Long, Expressionism 217th - Papiergesänge 41