2124 - Jespers, Oscar. 2 proofs of Paul van Ostaijen’s “Verloren Stad.” Woodcut and linocut on smooth paper. Each inscribed “Jespers” by another hand. 1921. Sheet dimensions: 32 x 27 cm and 32 x 39 cm.

Jespers, Oscar. 2 proofs of Paul van Ostaijen’s “Verloren Stad.” Woodcut and linocut on smooth paper. Each inscribed “Jespers” by another hand. 1921. Sheet dimensions: 32 x 27 cm and 32 x 39 cm. The work “Besetzte Stadt” was written by the Belgian poet Paul van Ostaijen (1896–1928) in Berlin during the summer of 1920. It is considered one of the pinnacles of avant-garde poetry. In Berlin, Ostaijen belonged to the circle associated with the “Der Sturm” gallery. His longtime confidant Oscar Jespers (1887–1970) created the prints to accompany his urban poetry. — The sheets are each slightly browned and show signs of handling and creases; one sheet has a small area of paper loss (2 cm).