181 - F. BALZER (1872–1916), Mother Crocheting, around 1900, pen drawing

F. BALZER (1872–1916), Mother Crocheting, around 1900, pen drawing Ferdinand Balzer (1872 Frankfurt am Main – 1916 ibid.): Mother Crocheting with Children at Play, c. 1900, pen drawing Technique: Watercolor pen drawing, watercolor on paper Stamp: “Estate” stamp on the reverse, Ferdinand Balzer Estate. Frankfurt am Main. 20th century Date: c. 1900 Description: Confining themselves to a corner of the room, we see the mother and children crocheting together, their heads bowed and their needlework on their laps. Absorbed in their own thoughts, each family member is devoted to their handiwork. It is so quiet that one could hear a wall clock ticking or the fire crackling in the fireplace. This interior scene radiates a peaceful tranquility and familial warmth, which is further emphasized by the warm ochre tones of the patchwork ceiling and floor. Ferdinand Balzer (1872, Frankfurt – 1916, ibid.) is known for his figurative scenes depicting everyday life and work, as well as landscapes of the Taunus region and his native Hesse. In 1892, he studied painting with Anton Burger in Kronberg; from 1893 to 1897, he attended the art school in Weimar; and in 1898–99, he studied at the Städelschule under Wilhelm Amadeus Beer. Although he was initially associated with the Frankfurt School, he later embraced new trends, such as the Impressionist style of Wilhelm Trübner. Around the turn of the century, he began to incorporate formal elements from Symbolism and Art Nouveau. Provenance: From the artist’s estate. Keywords: Handicraft, Domesticity, Children, Play, Interior, Family, Mother, Rest, 20th century, Realism, Costumes, Germany, Size: Paper: 16.4 cm x 20.8 cm (6.5 x 8.2 in) Condition: Good condition. Slightly wavy at the margins. On the reverse side, in the two upper corners, there are remnants of an old mounting.