Franz VON STUCK (1863-1928) Lot n° 37

Franz VON STUCK (1863-1928) Sin, circa 1893 Pastel Signed upper right 59 x 33 cm on view Provenance: Galerie Brockstedt, Hamburg (label on back). Former Manoukian collection Bibliography : Philippe Jullian, Dreamers of decadence; symbolist painters of the 1890s, Praeger Publishers, Inc. repr. no. 54 p.106 (titled "Eve") In 1893, Stuck presented the first version of our work, a glorification of Sin in the form of Eve embraced by a serpent, at the Munich Secession exhibition. Right from its first exhibition, the work caused a sensation and drew crowds. The artist would go on to produce several versions in order to satisfy commissions from enthusiasts. Stuck reduces the traditional theme of the Fall of Adam, traditionally seen as the symbol of man's seduction seduction of man by woman, to the single figure of Eve with the serpent. Between 1889 and 1912 various versions of the same theme: "Sin", "Sensuality" or "Vice", the best-known of which is The best-known of these is "Sin" from 1893 (Munich, Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen). Compared to the traditional motif, however, Stuck gives the snake a different role, making it an inseparable part of the family. inseparable from Eve, identifying with her. The serpent as a satanic, sensual and seductive being seductive being, becomes the symbol of woman, who is thus diabolical, both attractive and fatal. In addition the phallic significance of the snake, which quite simply makes these paintings symbols of sexuality. In this way, the paintings reflect the prevailing conception of women at the time: characteristic of Stuck himself, they are also characteristic of the behavior of a society that officially condemns sin, but secretly desires it. but secretly desires and appreciates it in this aesthetically embellished form. (Source: Ingrid Jenderko)