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Hans FrankDeath and Life / - United in Laughter -1911
1911
About the Item
Hans Frank (1884 Vienna - 1948 Salzburg), Death and Life, 1911. Lithograph, 18 cm x 31 cm (depiction), 25.5 cm x 38.7 cm (sheet size), signed “H.[ans] Frank” in pencil lower right and inscribed “Tod und Leben” lower left.
- darkened, remains of an old mounting on the verso
- United in Laughter -
Here, Hans Frank refers to the skull as a vanitas motif. In Renaissance and Baroque portraits, this motif symbolizes the transience of the sitter, whose head has become a skull over time. Penitents, such as St. Jerome, often hold skulls in melancholy contemplation. Here, however, the boy stands up for life itself. He boldly grabs the skull and laughs at the absurdity of life and death. The laughter of death joins the laughter of life, and vice versa. The child's thumb penetrates the skull's cheekbone to illustrate the inseparable connection between death and life.
About the artist
Hans Frank studied at the Vienna School of Applied Arts from 1902 to 1906 and then studied painting under Franz Rumpler at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts from 1907 to 1911. In 1911, he received a substantial travel grant from the emperor, which he used to travel to Switzerland, Paris, London, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. After serving in World War I, Frank moved to St. Marein im Mürztal, returning to Vienna in 1925. He took further study trips to Italy, southern France, and the Austrian countryside. In 1927, Frank became a member of the London Society of Color Printers. An exhibition of his work at the Medici Gallery in London brought him international recognition. He joined the Pasadena Printmakers Society of California and established contacts in Canada. In addition to his highly regarded paintings, Frank primarily worked as a graphic artist. He created over 300 prints and developed a new gradient technique for the fern woodcut with his twin brother, Leo Frank. After World War II, the artist fell into obscurity and retired to Salzburg.
GERMAN VERSION
Hans Frank (1884 Wien - 1948 Salzburg), Tod und Leben, 1911. Lithographie, 18 cm x 31 cm (Darstellung), 25,5 cm x 38,7 cm (Blattgröße), rechts unten in Blei mit „H.[ans] Frank“ signiert und links unten mit „Tod und Leben“ bezeichnet.
- nachgedunkelt, verso Reste einer alten Montage
- Im Lachen vereint -
Hans Frank bezieht sich hier auf den Totenschädel als Vanitasmotiv, der bei Porträtdarstellungen der Renaissance und des Barock auf die Vergänglichkeit der Dargestellten verweist, deren Köpfe – aus heutiger Sicht – zu Totenschädeln geworden sind. Büßer, wie der Heilige Hieronymus, halten den Schädel oftmals melancholisch sinnierend in die Hand. Hier hingehen greift der für das Leben selbst einstehende Knabe beherzt nach dem Totenkopf und bricht mit ihm in ein gemeinsames Gelächter über die Absurdität von Leben und Tod aus. Das Lachen des Todes stimmt in das Lachen des Lebens ein, so wie das Lachen des Lebens im Lachen des Todes wiederhallt. Dabei durchringt der Daumen des Kindes das Jochbein des Schädels, um die unauflösliche Verschlingung von Tod und Leben zu veranschaulichen.
zum Künstler
Nach einem von 1902 bis 1906 währenden Studium an der Wiener Kunstgewerbeschule studierte Hans Frank von 1907 bis 1911 an der Wiener Kunstakademie bei Franz Rumpler Malerei. 1911 erhielt er das große kaiserliche Reisstipendium, das er nutzte, um in die Schweiz, nach Paris, London, Belgien, Holland und Deutschland zu fahren. Nach seiner Soldatenzeit im Ersten Weltkrieg zog er nach St. Marein im Mürztal und wurde 1925 wieder in Wien ansässig. Es folgten weitere Studienreisen nach Italien, Südfrankreich und in die österreichische Landschaft. 1927 wurde Frank Mitglied der Londoner Society of Graver Printers in Colour. Eine Ausstellung seiner Werke in der Londoner Medici-Gallery verschaffte ihm internationale Bekanntschaft. Er wurde Mitglied der Pasadena Printmarker-Socitey of California und knüpfte Kontakte nach Kanada. Neben seiner geschätzten Malerei war Frank vor allem als Grafiker tätig. Er schuf über 300 Grafiken und entwickelte zusammen mit seinem Zwillingsbruder, Leo Frank, eine neue Verlaufstechnik für den Farnholzschnitt. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg geriet der Künstler in Vergessenheit und zog sich nach Salzburg zurück.
- Creator:Hans Frank (1884 - 1948, Austrian)
- Creation Year:1911
- Dimensions:Height: 7.09 in (18 cm)Width: 12.21 in (31 cm)Depth: 0.4 in (1 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Berlin, DE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2438216443382
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