Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12

Orla Muff
'Nana', Art Deco, Paris, Berlin, Weimar Republic, Max Reinhardt Theater, Smoking

1934

About the Item

Signed lower left, 'Muff' for Orla Muff (Danish, 1903-1984), titled, 'Nana' and dated 1934. After winning a national drawing competition at the age of 14, Orla Muff studied with the theatrical painter, Carl Lund from 1917-1921. He followed this with extended study throughout Europe, including in Stockholm and Paris. He achieved widespread acclaim as a designer of elaborate Art Deco sets for prominent European revues and theatrical productions, including for Copenhagen’s Folk Theater and Max Reinhardt’s Theater in Berlin. In the early 1930s, Muff turned his attention to easel painting, creating portraits and mythologically-derived figural works that often incorporated a high degree of Art Deco stylization. This study of a young member of Weimar Berlin's demi-monde was painted when Orla Muff was in his early thirties. It showcases both the artist’s gift for dramatic composition and an intuitive talent for psychological penetration. Exhibitions: Horse and Naked Women (1928); Woman with Golden Hair (1931); Leda and the Swan (exhibit 1940); Mountains by night (exhibit 1940); Midsummer Night's Dream (exhibit 1940); Landscape, Tisvilde (exhibit 1944); H.C. Andersen figures (wooden sculptures, 1947); H.C Andersen figures (ceramics, 1950s, for fa. Søholm); ill. with motifs from the Bible, intended for use in school films (from 1957); Triptych (1962-64); endv. ill. by H.C. Andersen's fairy tales, posters, theater decorations and costumes for the Mayol Theater, Oslo (1921-22); to Ernst Rolf's revues, Sth. (1923-28); to Max Reinhardt's Theater, Berlin (including for Faust, 1930); to Folketeatret, Copenhagen. (Värmländingene, 1934); to Wintergarten, Berlin (1939). Reference: Weilbach, Dansk Kunstnerleksikon, the Castle and Cultural Agency, Copenhagen; Extrabl. 4/13/1940; 17.7.1940; Berl. Time. 7/29/1957; Day. Nyh. 9/22/1957; et al.
  • Creator:
    Orla Muff (1903 - 1984)
  • Creation Year:
    1934
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17.75 in (45.09 cm)Width: 21.75 in (55.25 cm)Depth: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    recently cleaned and in original, unrestored condition; unframed.
  • Gallery Location:
    Santa Cruz, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU3449874592
More From This SellerView All
  • 'Young Woman', Grande Chaumière, Hague Academy of Fine Arts, Brooklyn Museum
    By Jan Hoowij
    Located in Santa Cruz, CA
    An elegant oil portrait of a young Arab woman shown wearing a veil and gazing with candor and interest directly towards the viewer. Signed lower left, "Jan Hoowij" (Dutch-American, ...
    Category

    1960s Modern Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • 'Portrait of a Young Man', Dennis the Menace, Walt Disney, Figural Oil
    Located in Santa Cruz, CA
    Signed center right, 'Ketcham' for Hank Ketcham (American, 1920-2001) and dated 1990. Hank Ketcham, the creator of Dennis the Menace, was born in Seattle...
    Category

    1990s Modern Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • 'Sheila Antoine with Afro', Sir John Cass, Otis Art Institute, California
    By Pearl Took
    Located in Santa Cruz, CA
    Signed lower left with monogram, 'P.T.' for Pearl Took (American, 1928-2012); additionally signed verso, dated 1977 and titled 'Sheila Antoine'. Born in England, Pearl Took first st...
    Category

    1970s Modern Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • 'Toreador', California, Post Impressionist Oil, Santa Monica College
    Located in Santa Cruz, CA
    Signed lower left, 'Goetz' for Jack Goetz (American, born 1919); additionally signed, verso, dated 1998, titled 'Toreador', with artist information. A dramatic figural study of a proud, young toreador shown seated, wearing an embroidered vest and gazing directly towards the viewer. Goetz has painted and exhibited with success for many years and continues to paint at the age of 104. Speaking of himself, the artist says: "I studied arts and languages at Santa Monica College, taking classes in oil and watercolor painting, sculpture, ceramics, art history and music. At the same time, I studied with master painter Sergei Bongart. Because he taught many people in the movie business, I had fun meeting and painting with people...
    Category

    1990s Modern Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • 'Woman in Blue', Danish Royal Academy, Brooklyn Museum, Kolding
    Located in Santa Cruz, CA
    Initialed lower left, 'A.S.' for Anton Schroder (Danish, 1893-1965) and dated 1953. A substantial, modernist oil painting of a young woman, shown seated and gazing to her left with ...
    Category

    1950s Modern Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • 'Young Woman Wearing a Copper Scarf', Paris, Salon d'Automne, Brittany, Skagen
    Located in Santa Cruz, CA
    Signed lower left, 'W. Schwartz' for Walter Erwin Otto Schwartz (Danish, 1889-1958), dated 1935 and inscribed 'Skagen' lower right. A substantial, psychologically penetrating portrait of a young woman with braids, shown dressed in a charcoal wool coat and wearing a copper-colored neck-scarf. The self-possessed sitter stands and meets the viewers gaze directly, proving herself an unusually confident subject for this noted Danish Modernist. Nephew of the Danish academic artist, Frans Schwartz, Walter Schwartz grew up surrounded by the painters who frequented the Danish art colony on the picturesque island of Skagen. Walter first studied formally (1904-8) with Michael Ancher...
    Category

    1930s Modern Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

You May Also Like
  • Young Swimmer (Modern, Academic Style Portrait Painting in Antique Gold Frame)
    By Mark Beard
    Located in Hudson, NY
    Figurative oil on canvas painting of a young athletic male 24 x 20 inches, 29.5 x 23.5 inches vintage gold painted wood frame signed B. Sargeant in red in upper right hand corner T...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Modern Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Large-Scale Modern Multi-Color Portrait of Noir Author Cornell Woolrich
    By Chris Pelletiere
    Located in Soquel, CA
    A striking, large-scale multi-color modernist portrait of Noir fiction writer Cornell Woolrich by Chris Pelletiere (American, B. 1942). Cornell Woolrich wrote the novel "The Rear Window." He studied at the Arts Students League and NY School of Painting and Drawing. Signed on verso with artist's information, and title "Portrait: Cornell Woolrich". Wood slat, basic frame. Image size; 50"H x 50"W. A painter, illustrator, and cartoonist Pelletiere cites his early influences as the pre-code crime and horror comics. " Life in the metropolitan area plays a significant role in my artwork. For many years he made sketches of people in the transit system. Chris Pelletiere is a painter, collage artist, illustrator, and cartoonist. His work is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, The New York Public Library and private collections of Stephen King...
    Category

    1970s Modern Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Frida - Figurative Painting Colors Yellow Brown Blue Pink White Red Grey Black
    By Yovana Dimitrova
    Located in Sofia, BG
    "Frida" is a figurative, romantic painting by Maestro Yovana Dimitrova, She is an emerging artist. About the artwork: TECHNIQUE: Tempera painting STYLE: Contemporary Edition : Unique, signed Weight: Approximately 3 kg. “The impressions of Yovana's paintings on the viewer is perfection. Her paintings bring emotion happiness, positive energy and make you think about the nowadays problems. This painting represent the vast creative power of her talent.” Dear art lovers, if you like the art of maestro Dimitrova, please click the link to follow this artist and art gallery Snow Pearl to discover all our artists and beautiful artworks. Thank you so much! we appreciate your interest to our work. Numerous artworks of the artist have been sold to galleries and individuals around the world A certificate of authenticity of the artwork is delivered by Snow Pearl art gallery.
    Category

    2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • "Lee J. Cobb #3"
    By Gershon Benjamin
    Located in Lambertville, NJ
    Jim’s of Lambertville is proud to offer this artwork by: Gershon Benjamin (1899 - 1985) An American Modernist of portraits, landscapes, still lives, and the urban scene, Gershon ...
    Category

    1930s Modern Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • "Jewel"
    By Gershon Benjamin
    Located in Lambertville, NJ
    Jim’s of Lambertville is proud to offer this artwork by: Gershon Benjamin (1899 - 1985) An American Modernist of portraits, landscapes, still lives, and the urban scene, Gershon ...
    Category

    1940s Modern Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Portrait of Young Man with Mustache - 20th Century - Painting - Modern
    Located in Roma, IT
    Nice oval painting realized by an Italian master belonging to the Tuscan school at the end of 19th / beginning of 20th century. In excellent conditions.
    Category

    Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

Recently Viewed

View All