Ernst Ludwig Kirchner Lot n° 722

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - The Friends (Albert Müller and Hermann Scherer). Woodcut on buff wove paper by Van Gelder with watermark "Holland VG". (1924). Approx. 84,5 x 54 cm (sheet size approx. 95,5 x 63 cm). One of only 6 known copies. Signed lower right, inscribed "Handdruck" lower left. - One of the most monumental woodcuts in Kirchner's extensive printmaking œuvre - Important testimony to the artist friendship Müller and Scherer - Same motif as an oil painting in the artist's estate and as a wood sculpture in the Kunstmuseum Basel The exhibition of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner shown in June 1923 in the Kunsthalle Basel made a lasting impression on the young artists Albert Müller (1897-1926) and Hermann Scherer (1893-1927) and led to a fruitful friendship between the three artists. Both men are several times guests of Kirchner in Davos-Frauenkirch, who influences and advises them artistically. On New Year's Eve 1924, Müller and Scherer founded the artists' association "Rot-Blau" (Red-Blue) together with Paul Camenisch, following the example of the "Brücke" (Bridge), which became important for Swiss Expressionism. Kirchner immortalized the two artist friends Müller and Scherer in an impressive artist portrait, which he realized several times in different techniques. In addition to the woodcut offered here, he also painted the same motif as a color-intensive, large-format oil painting (WVZ Gordon 763, 166 × 90 cm, in the estate). In addition, he produced the two friendly men as a life-size, colorfully painted wooden sculpture, which is now in the Kunstmuseum Basel (WVZ Henze 1924/08, height 170 cm). In addition, there is also a chalk drawing, probably made in preparation, which was sold at an auction in Berlin in 2007. All these works form a living testimony to the only briefly lasting artist friendship, which ended with the surprisingly early death of both Albert Müller in December 1926 and Hermann Scherer in May 1927. Wonderful copy of this rare and monumental woodcut in its second, final state, with wide, probably complete margins. Unknown collector's stamp "Mb" on verso (Lugt 3786). Dube H 522; Gercken 1452 II (of II). Exhibition: Probably Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Paintings and graphics of the collection Dr. Frédéric Bauer - Davos, Nuremberg 1952, cat.-no. 323, no ill. Provenance: Probably from the collection of Dr. Frédéric Bauer (1883-1957), Davos, chief physician of the park sanatorium Davos; Nagel, Stuttgart 26.4.2007, lot 777; private collection, Northern Germany. Taxation: differential taxed VAT: Margin Scheme