694 - Lotte Laserstein (1898, Preußisch Holland – Kalmar, 1993)

Lotte Laserstein (1898, Preußisch Holland – Kalmar, 1993) Portrait of a Girl Looking to the Right Pastel on gray-green, fibrous vellum. 1980. Approx. 47 x 59 cm. Signed and dated upper left. • Characteristic late work from 1980 with impressive psychological depth • Sensitive portraiture in a virtuoso, atmospherically nuanced pastel technique • A leading representative of New Objectivity, rediscovered internationally in 1987 Lotte Laserstein is considered one of the most significant portrait painters of the 20th century. As early as her time in Berlin during the Weimar Republic, she developed a distinctive visual language, characterized by an extraordinary sensitivity to the personalities of her models. Even after her emigration to Sweden in 1937, the depiction of the human figure remained the central theme of her work. This portrait of a girl, created in 1980, impressively continues this lifelong exploration. With a sure sense of color and light, Laserstein captures the quiet, introspective demeanor of her young model. The slightly downcast gaze and the gently modeled facial features lend the portrait a special intimacy and immediacy. Of particular appeal is the free, painterly use of pastel. The finely rendered face stands in striking contrast to the loosely applied areas of color in the clothing and background. Cool shades of blue and violet contrast with the warm brown and gold tones of the hair, lending the depiction a lively, atmospheric effect. This portrait of a girl impressively attests to the undiminished artistic expressiveness of Laserstein, who was over eighty at the time. It reveals that rare ability to create a quiet psychological presence that transcends mere physical resemblance—a quality that has distinguished her portraiture for decades and continues to be the source of its special fascination to this day. Provenance: Private collection, Sweden; Private collection, Northern Germany. Taxation: subject to margin scheme (VAT: Margin Scheme).