Michel Fingesten

Ex Libris - Malz - Woodcut by Michel Fingesten - 1930s

1930s

Ex Libris is a woodcut print created by Michel Fingesten in 1937. Hand Signed on the lower right margin. Good conditions. Michel Fingesten (1884 - 1943) was a Czech painter an...

Ex Libris - H. Malz Wünscht is a Woodcut print created by Michel Fingesten in 1936. Hand signed on the lower margin. Good conditions. Michel Fingesten (1884 - 1943) was a Czech pa...

Ex Libris M.R. is a Woodcut print created by Michel Fingesten. Hand Signed on the lower right margin. Very Good condition. Michel Fingesten (1884 - 1943) was a Czech painter and ...

Ex Libris G.B. is a woodcut print by Michel Fingesten, in 1937. Hand signed , included a white cardboard passpartout (30x24 cm). In excellent conditions: As good as new. Michel Fingesten (1884 - 1943) was a Czech painter and engraver of Jewish origin. He is considered one of the greatest Ex Libris artists in history. From an Austrian weaver father and a Jewish mother from Trieste. At 16 he studied at the Vienna Academy, together with Oskar Kokoschka. From 1902 to 1906 he wandered around America, and then Australia, before arriving in Palermo in 1907. He went up the peninsula via Trieste and returning to Germany, first settling in Munich in Franz von Stuck's studio, practicing caricature and small format graphics and then in Berlin. In 1913 he began to record. He returned to Italy in 1935 to visit his maternal relatives from Trieste and remained there because of the racial persecutions to which the Jews in Silesia were subject, settling in Milan. In this period he recorded about 500 exlibris. On 9 October 1940 he was arrested and interned as a foreigner in the camp of Civitella del Tronto and then of Ferramonti, (Cosenza) from November 1941 and will be accused by the Nazis of having painted degenerate art ("Entartete Kunst...

Karl Michel, 'Ex Libris Dr. Witropp - Homunculus und Galatee', etching, 1923, edition not stated. Signed, dated, and numbered 'Op. 140' (the artist's inventory number) in pencil. Si...

The lithograph titled "Programm eines Abendkonzerts" (The Program of an Evening Concert) by Nathan Altman is a beautifully crafted piece from the "Jüdische Graphik" series, produced ...

Ex libris Olav Tähe Paper, woodcut, 11x7cm

"Eva und die Schlange" (Eve and the Snake) by Nathan Altman is anintriguing lithograph from the "Jüdische Graphik" series produced in 1923. This artwork features a compelling and symbolically rich depiction of Eve entwined with the snake, set against the same burnished gold background that characterizes other prints from this series. The use of black and white lithography enhances the dramatic interplay between the figures, highlighting themes of temptation and knowledge that are central to the Biblical story of Eve. In this print, Altman's avant-garde sensibilities are evident in the stylization of the figures and the expressive, almost abstract forms of the snake and foliage. The inclusion of Hebrew text further anchors the piece within its Jewish cultural context, possibly adding layers of interpretation related to wisdom, sin, and redemption. As with the other prints from this series, the limited edition of only 250 copies increases its rarity and value. Altman's work not only captures significant biblical narratives but also reflects the broader themes of cultural identity and modernist experimentation in the early 20th century. This print serves as a fascinating example of how traditional stories are reinterpreted through modernist artistic lenses, making it a valuable piece for collectors and admirers of Jewish and avant-garde art. Altmann’s choice of a burnished gold background not only enriches the visual impact but also elevates the symbolic elements, giving the artwork a solemn and revered quality. This specific piece, like others from the series, was produced in Berlin by the publisher "Petropolis," reflecting the vibrant Jewish artistic community that existed in pre-war Europe. Altmann’s work, especially given his background as a Jewish artist in Soviet Russia, often navigated between his cultural identity and the broader avant-garde movements, making each of his pieces historically and artistically significant. This print, considering its rarity and the mystery surrounding the number of surviving copies, is an exceptional representation of Jewish cultural history intertwined with early 20th-century art movements. Nathan Altman was an influential figure in the Russian and Soviet avant-garde movement. Born in 1889 in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, he studied at the Odessa Art School, later moving to Paris to further his education at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere. Altman's style evolved over the years, showing strong influences from Cubism and Futurism, which are evident in his approach to stage design and book illustration as well. Altman's contributions extend beyond visual arts; he was also notable for his set designs for Jewish theaters...