7041 - Pechstein, Hermann Max

Pechstein, Hermann Max Prostitute Drypoint, vernis mou, and aquatint on thick rag paper. 1908. 15.7 x 9.1 cm (18.9/20.1 x 12.1/12.8 cm). Krüger R 30. Alongside a deep longing for nature, the modern metropolis was one of the favorite themes of all Expressionists: brothels, café, variety show, and circus scenes. In 1908, Pechstein was the first of his “Die Brücke” colleagues to immerse himself in Berlin’s metropolitan life, inspired by previous stays in Italy and Paris. The depiction of the prostitute still appears somewhat stiff and wooden, which may be due to the large hat she balances on her head. With the face only vaguely suggested, Pechstein focuses his attention on the female body, extending down to the edge of her provocative stockings. This extremely rare print features a magnificent image, nuanced in the gray tones of the area etching, likely with the full margin. Krüger lists another copy in the catalog raisonné; no further prints have been documented in international auctions since 2000. Provenance: Formerly the Heinrich Neuerburg Collection, with a blind stamp in the lower left corner (Lugt 1344a) - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog.