603 - Hermann Max Pechstein (1881, Zwickau – Berlin, 1955)

Hermann Max Pechstein (1881, Zwickau – Berlin, 1955) Small Mühlengraben Bridge Watercolor over charcoal on cream-colored vellum with an embossed stamp reading “Hand with Axe.” 1923. Approx. 50 x 62 cm. Signed and dated lower right. • Created during one of Pechstein’s early summer stays in Leba, Pomerania • Atmospheric, large-format landscape depiction featuring the characteristic motif of the mill ditch • A vibrant watercolor with loose brushstrokes The watercolor was created during one of Max Pechstein’s stays in Leba, Pomerania, which had been one of his favorite summer retreats since the early 1920s and provided him with numerous subjects for his paintings. Depicted is the small wooden bridge over the mill ditch in the village, whose simple construction blends harmoniously into the landscape characterized by waterways, gardens, and trees. It is precisely these unspectacular views of everyday village life that fascinate Pechstein and become the starting point for his distinctive painterly vision. Using transparent layers of watercolor over a loose charcoal sketch, the artist develops a luminous color palette dominated by shades of blue and green. The bridge, which runs diagonally across the picture, anchors the composition in the foreground and draws the viewer’s gaze into the spatial depth. Loose brushstrokes, simplified forms, and the interplay of water surfaces, vegetation, and architecture lend the scene a lively quality. Provenance: Lempertz, Cologne, November 30, 1973, Lot 566 (titled “Kleine Flußbrücke”); Private collection, Rhineland. Taxation: subject to margin scheme (VAT: Margin Scheme).