1466 - Christian Rohlfs (1849, Niendorf – 1938, Hagen)

Christian Rohlfs (1849, Niendorf – 1938, Hagen) Collection of eight drawings and watercolors for the children of Karl Ernst Osthaus The works were created around 1905–1907 in Hagen, where the artist—a leading figure of Classical Modernism in Germany—had lived and worked since 1901 at the invitation of his patron, Karl Ernst Osthaus. During this time, Rohlfs spent a great deal of time at the Osthaus family home and had a close, affectionate relationship with the five children, to whom he enjoyed telling fairy tales and stories, illustrating them with spontaneous ideas. Any paper that happened to be on hand in the house—printed materials, envelopes, etc.—served as a surface for his drawings and watercolors. The following works are extant: “Beggar” (on an information sheet from the Berlin Secession, November 1906), a rooster (on an envelope addressed to K. E. Osthaus, Hagen), a king on horseback (on a scrap of stationery), a standing monkey (on brown cardboard, with a kissing couple on the reverse), “Officer” (on paper from the Breitkopf & Härtel book and art printing house), a lion (on a “book insert”), a crocodile (on a stamped envelope addressed to Rohlfs, postmark dated January 14, 1907), and a rooster’s head (on brown packing paper). Watercolor, gouache, and charcoal. 9.1 cm–29.3 cm x 12.5 cm–25.5 cm. Individually framed under UV-protective glass. Provenance: Karl Ernst Osthaus Collection, Hagen; Eberhard Osthaus Collection, Worpswede; subsequently in the family possession of the heirs. A collection of eight drawings and watercolors.