7063 - Kroh, Heinz

Kroh, Heinz Nightclub in Cologne’s Old Town Oil on canvas. Circa 1925. 53 x 59 cm. Signed “H Kroh” in black with a brush in the lower right corner. Kroh casts a veil of darkness over the atmosphere in the Cologne nightclub, somewhat softening the all-too-deep traces of this way of life visible on the faces. Nevertheless, in the dim light, the expressions of the patrons reflect the consequences of too much alcohol, dashed hopes, and the futile search for happiness. The soft brushstrokes are loose and impressionistic, the dark-toned palette is harmonious, and the composition of the cramped bar conveys a convincing sense of space. Kroh trained at the Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts under Eduard von Gebhardt, Peter Janssen, and Adolf Maennchen, who taught him the “chalk-wiping technique.” Provenance: Private collection, Cologne - 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.