1244 - STÜBNER, ROBERT EMIL

STÜBNER, ROBERT EMIL 1874 Forst (Lusatia)–1931 Berlin Title: Ballet Performance at the Theater. Technique: Oil on panel. Dimensions: 73 x 92 cm. Markings: Signed lower right: Robert Stübner. Reverse: Inscribed on the frame: Robert Stübner. Frame: Framed. It is a delight to immerse oneself in Robert Emil Stübner’s narrative paintings. We are therefore all the more pleased to present two works by this Berlin-based painter that showcase his evocative body of work. In Lot No. 1244, “Evening Gathering in the Foyer of the Paris Opera,” Robert Emil Stübner captures the carefree and exuberant mood of the opera-goers. The flickering of the gas lamps, the guests’ perfume, the laughter of the crowd: it’s as if we were taking part in the festivities. He succeeds in depicting the crowded staircase and the well-filled box seats at the opera with a certain lightness. Thus, small vignettes emerge amid the hustle and bustle: at the foot of the stairs, a lady in a light blue dress is pulling up her stockings. An elegant couple leans over the staircase, perhaps searching for familiar faces. A lady in dark red at the far left edge of the painting gazes dreamily out over the scene. Stübner creates an authentic yet idealized depiction of a festive evening at the opera, reflecting the fun and elegance, but also the chaotic bustle of high society. The exuberant commotion is reflected not only in the audience but also on stage, where the action is just as lively and turbulent. In Lot No. 1243, “Ballet Performance at the Theater,” the visitors (among whom we are included) are watching a play. Dressed in colorful costumes, the performers dance in a confined space, led by a Pierrot and a Harlequin. Masked musicians can be seen at the back of the stage, and on a balustrade, two gentlemen dressed in dark clothing look down on the wild goings-on. The stage spectacle is illuminated by red lanterns, whose light bathes everything in warm ochre and yellow tones. The situation is different in the dark auditorium. The theatergoers watch the performance with straight backs and perfectly coiffed hair. Only one audience member tosses a piece of tinsel—which had been let loose over the stage and found its way to him—back to where it belongs. Such details lend the painting a special spontaneity, similar to that of a snapshot. This lively capture of the moment is characteristic of Stübner. As a fin-de-siècle painter, he continually refined his technique and expanded his range of subjects. Born in 1874 in Forst in Lusatia, he was drawn to the art school in Breslau—now Wrocław, Poland—for his artistic training. He subsequently studied at the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts under Anton von Werner. Working primarily in Berlin, his subjects focused mainly on big-city life. He died there in 1931. With his keen eye for the fleeting moments of everyday urban life, Robert Emil Stübner left behind an artistic testament to life in Berlin at the turn of the 20th century. Provenance: - Private collection, France; acquired directly from the artist (according to the consignor). Estimated shipping costs for this lot: This lot is not suitable for parcel shipping. Transport is available only through a shipping company after consultation following the auction. Additional shipping insurance Shipping insurance up to a total invoice amount of 25,000 euros: max. 41.65 euros For a total invoice amount exceeding 25,000 Euros: 1.8 per thousand Shipping to the USA by individual arrangement after the auction. #Robert Emil Stübner #Berlin School #Germany #19th/20th C. #Masks #Theater #Paintings.