1332 - Carl Spitzweg (1808 Munich – 1885 Munich)

Carl Spitzweg (1808 Munich – 1885 Munich) "The Gnome." Original title In Spitzweg’s typical grotesque and humorous style, the long-bearded dwarf lies face down on a small hill with his head propped up on his elbows, gazing pensively and bored in an indeterminate direction. Spitzweg was a tireless draftsman who not only captured real-life observations spontaneously and quickly but also brought flashes of inspiration and fantasies to life immediately with his nimble pen. As a talented satirist, he studied contemporary satirical prints and French caricaturists such as Daumier in depth, and in 1844 became a contributor to the satirical magazine *Fliegende Blätter*. In many paintings, he humorously depicts a natural world inhabited by dwarfs and little miners, satirizing petty-bourgeois society. This small drawing fits into this context; it brings to mind, first and foremost, his pictures of dwarves at a cave entrance watching a train pass by in the valley. Pencil on paper. Signed lower right and estate stamp (Lugt 2307); old title on the back cover. Minimal browning toward the edges. Mat cutout 19.8 cm x 14.8 cm. Framed. Pencil on paper. Estate stamp. Very minor light toning toward the edges.