239 - Willi Baumeister. Graphic Figurations. Ten lithographs, two colored. 1946. Approx. 38 × 30 cm (45.5 × 37.5 cm). All signed and marked “/50.” Stuttgart, Eidos-Presse 1946.

Willi Baumeister. Graphic Figurations. Ten lithographs, two colored. 1946. Approx. 38 × 30 cm (45.5 × 37.5 cm). All signed and marked “/50.” Stuttgart, Eidos-Presse 1946. Call time: approx. 3:09 p.m. (schedule subject to change) “Artist’s copy,” as handwritten in the printer’s note (total edition of 50). - All prints are mounted on backing cardboard and housed in the original folder together with the double-page text sheet. - Also signed by the artist in the printer’s note. - Foreword by Dolf Sternberger; text by Maria Schranz. - The numbering of the sheets “/50” indicates the edition; the front cover of the folder has no title label. - The folders were delivered in varying configurations, “because apparently the paper for a uniform edition was not available.” ... The coloring was primarily done by Baumeister’s students according to his instructions. The titles were not officially specified by the artist. They correspond to those of similar paintings, but a significant portion of them also originated as agreed-upon designations within the art trade. For the reasons stated, it is not possible to reliably specify either the exact print run of the motifs or the sequence of the sheets” (Spielmann/Baumeister, p. 70). - “Baumeister’s graphic figurations seem to have been conceived and captured in a single moment, before it has been decided whether they will develop into figures or into signs, into letters. Their interplay takes place on the secret boundary between the body and writing.” (Preface). Spielmann/Baumeister 68–74, 76–78 47.5 × 39.0 cm. (portfolio format). 10 lithographs, 1 double sheet. - Portfolio cover has foxing; spine restored. - Browned due to the nature of the paper. English description: Unnumbered artist’s proof, designated as such in the colophon (total print run of 50). - All prints, all mounted on backing board, two of them colored, together with a double-page text sheet in the original folder. - Signed by the artist in the colophon. - Foreword by Dolf Sternberger, text by Maria Schranz. - The numbering of the sheets “/50” indicates the edition; the front cover of the portfolio lacks a title label. - The portfolios were distributed in varying configurations, “because apparently the paper for a uniform edition was not available. ... The coloring was primarily undertaken by Baumeister’s students according to his specifications. The titles were not officially specified by the artist. They correspond to those of similar paintings, but a significant portion also originated as conventional designations used in the art trade. For the reasons stated, neither the exact print run of the motifs nor the sequence of the sheets can be reliably determined” (Spielmann/Baumeister, p. 70). - “Baumeister’s graphic figurations seem to have been conceived and captured in a single moment, before it was decided whether they would develop into figures or into signs, into letters. Their interplay takes place on the secret boundary between the body and writing.” (Preface). The folder cover has water stains; the spine has been restored. - Browning due to the paper.