Symbolist Figurative Prints

Monogram of the artist on plate. Edition of 150 copies. One of the 50 H.C.copies in Roman Numerals. This print is one of the illustrations realized by Odilon Redon for an important e...

Ex Libris - Marcel Jonckheere is a Modern Artwork realized by Gerard Schelpe (1906-1973) in 1959.. Ex Libris. B/W woodcut on paper. Monogrammed on plate and dated on the back...

Kampfende Faune is an artwork realized by Franz von Stuck in the early 20th Century. Etching.

Der Zeichner is a superb etching made around 1900 by a still unknown author, but surely from the circle of Max Klinger (Leipzig, 1857 - Grossjena, 1920). Title on plate in the lower margin in the center. Posthumous impression of a matrix by an unknown author. The style refers to the Griffelkunst and the prescriptions of the Max Klinger "school of stylus"and of the artists who were close to him. In particular, for the subject in question, in the circle of Max Klinger, Saschia Schneider stands out, who placed male...

Etching and aquatint realized in 1909. Belongs to the series "Amor und Psyche. Opus V". Very good condition.

Etching on vélin paper, realized by Beier in the early 20th Century. Signed on the plate at the top right, countersigned in pencil at the bottom right. Good condition.

Ballerinas is a photolithograph print on ivory-colored paper, glued on a greenish Passepartout realized in the early 20 century After Constantin Guys Good conditions. The artwork ...

Moonlit Night from Intermezzi belongs to a series of prints called Intermezzi realized by Max Klinger, published by Nurnberg: Stroefer, 1881. Etching on paper. Signed on the plate ...

2018 marks the centenary anniversary of Ferdinand Hodler’s death. In that 100 years time, the art world’s esteem of this important artist has proved fickle. It has shifted from extolling his artistic merits during his lifetime to showing something of a feigned disdain- more reflective of the world political order than a true change of heart for Hodler’s work. After years of Hodler being all but a footnote in the annals of art history and generally ignored, finally, the pendulum has righted itself once again. Recent retrospective exhibitions in Europe and the United States have indicated not only a joyful rediscovery of Hodler’s art but a firm conviction that his work and world view hold particular relevance today. DAS WERK FERDINAND HODLERS is not only a collection of printed work reflecting the best of all of his painted work created up to 1914 just before the outbreak of World War I, the portfolio itself is an encapsulation of Hodler’s ethos, Parallelisme. Hodler developed his philosophy of Parallelisme as a unifying approach to art which strips away detail in search of harmony. By means of abstraction, symmetry and repetition, Hodler sought ways to depict Nature’s essence and her fundamental, universal order. He believed these universal laws governing the natural, observable world extend to the spiritual realm. Symbolist in nature with Romantic undertones, his works are equally portraits of these universal concepts and feelings governing all life as they are a visual portrait in the formal sense. Whether his subject is a solitary tree, a moment in battle, mortal fear, despair, the awe inspired by a vast mountain range, a tender moment or even the collective conviction in a belief, Hodler unveils this guiding principle of Parallelisme. Several aspects of Hodler’s portfolio reinforce his tenets of Parallelisme. The Table of Contents clearly preferences a harmonious design over detail. The two columns, consisting of twenty lines each, list the images by order of appearance using their German titles. The abbreviated titles are somewhat cryptic in that they obscure the identities of the sitters. Like the image Hodler presents, they are distillations of the sitter without any extraneous details. This shortening was also done in an effort to maintain a harmonious symmetry of the Table of Contents, themselves, and keep titles to a one-line limit. The twenty-fourth title: “Bildnis des Schweizerischen Gesandten C.” was so long, even with abbreviation, that it required two lines; so, for the sake of maintaining symmetry, the fortieth title: “Bauernmadchen” was omitted from the list. This explains why the images are not numbered. Hodler’s reasoning is not purely esoteric. Symmetry and pattern reach beyond mere formal design principles. Finding sameness and imposing it over disorder goes to the root of Hodler’s identity and his art. A Swiss native, Hodler was bi-lingual and spoke German and French. Each printed image, even number forty, have titles in both of Hodler’s languages. Certainly, there was a market for Hodler’s work among francophones and this inclusion may have been a polite gesture to that end; however, this is the only place in the portfolio which includes French. With German titles at the lower left of each image, Hodler’s name at bottom center and corresponding French titles at the lower right of each image, there is a harmony and symmetry woven into all aspects of the portfolio. This holds true for the page design, as it applies to each printed image and as it describes the Swiss artist himself. Seen in this light, Hodler’s portfolio of printed work is the epitome of Hodler’s Parallelisme. DAS WERK FERDINAND HODLERS is also one of the most significant documents to best tell the story of how Hodler, from Switzerland, became caught between political cross-hairs and how the changing tides of nations directly impacted the artist during his lifetime as well as the accessibility of his art for generations to come. The Munich-based publisher of the portfolio, R. Piper & Co., Verlag, plays a crucial role in this story. Publishing on a wide range of subjects from philosophy and world religion to music, literature and the visual arts; the publisher’s breadth of inquiry within any one genre was equal in scope. Their marketing strategy to publish multiple works on Hodler offers great insight as to what a hot commodity Hodler was at that time. R.Piper & Co.’s Almanach, which they published in 1914 in commemoration of their first ten years in business, clearly illustrates the rapid succession- strategically calculated for achieving the deepest and broadest impact - in which they released three works on Hodler to hit the market by the close of 1914. DAS WERK FERDINAND HODLERS was their premier publication. It preceded C.A. Loosli’s Die Zeichnungen Ferdinand Hodlers, a print portfolio after 50 drawings by Hodler which was released in Autumn of 1914 at the mid-level price-point of 75-150 Marks; and a third less expensive collection of prints after original works by Hodler, which had not been included in either of the first two portfolios, was released at the end of that year entitled Ferdinand Hodler by Dr. Ewald Bender. The title and timing of DAS WERK FERDINAND HODLERS' debut leaves little doubt as to the connection it has with another avant-garde portfolio of art prints, Das Werk Gustav Klimts, released in 5 installments from 1908 -1914 by Galerie Miethke in Vienna. Hodler, himself, was involved in Klimt’s ground-breaking project. As the owner of Klimt’s 1901 painting, “Judith with the Head of Holifernes” which appears as the ninth collotype print in the second installment of Das Werk Gustav Klimts, Hodler was obliged to grant access of the painting to the art printers in Vienna for them to create the collotype sometime before 1908. Hodler had been previously invited in 1904 to take part in what would be the last exhibition of the Vienna Secession before Klimt and others associated with Galerie Miethke broke away. In an interview that same year, Hodler indicated that he respected and was impressed by Klimt. Hodler’s esteem for Klimt went beyond the art itself; he emulated Klimt’s method aimed at increasing his market reach and appeal to a wider audience by creating a print portfolio of his painted work. By 1914, Hodler and his publisher had the benefit of hindsight to learn from Klimt’s Das Werk publication. Responding to the sluggish sales of Klimt’s expensive endeavor, Hodler’s publisher devised the same diversified 1-2-3 strategy for selling Hodler’s Das Werk portfolio as they did with regards to all three works on Hodler they published that year. For their premium tier of DAS WERKS FERDINAND HODLERS, R. Piper & Co. issued an exclusive Museum quality edition of 15 examples on which Hodler signed each page. At a cost of 600 Marks, this was generally on par with Klimt’s asking price of 600 Kronen for his Das Werk portfolio. A middle-tiered Preferred edition of 30, costing somewhat less and with Hodler’s signature only on the Title Page, was also available. The General edition, targeting the largest audience with its much more affordable price of 150 Marks, is distinguishable by its smaller size. Rather than use the subscription format Miethke had chosen for Klimt’s portfolios which proved to have had its challenges, R. Piper & Co. employed a different strategy. In addition to instantly gratifying the buyer with all 40 of the prints comprising DAS WERK FERDINAND HODLERS and the choice among three price points, they advertised in German journals a fourth possibility of ordering single prints from them directly. These printed images are easily discernible from the three complete folio editions. The paper size of the single purchased images is of the larger format like the Museum and Preferred editions, measuring 65 h x 50 w cm; however, the paper itself is the same copper print paper used in the General edition and then mounted on poster board. The publishing house positioned itself to be a direct retailer of Hodler’s art. They astutely recognized the potential for profitability and the importance, therefore, of having proprietary control over his graphic works. R. Piper & Co. owned the exclusive printing rights to Hodler’s best work found in their three publications dating from 1914. That same year, a competing publication out of Weimar entitled Ferdinand Hodler: Ein Deutungsversuch von Hans Muhlestein appeared. Its author, a young scholar, expressed his frustration with the limited availability of printable work by Hodler. In his Author’s Note on page 19, dated Easter, 1914, Muhlestein confirms that the publisher of Hodler’s three works from that same year owned the exclusive reproductive rights to Hodler’s printed original work. He goes further to explain that even after offering to pay to use certain of those images in his book, the publisher refused. Clearly, a lot of jockeying for position in what was perceived as a hot market was occurring in 1914. Instead, their timing couldn’t have been more ill-fated, and what began with such high hopes suddenly found a much different market amid a hostile climate. The onset of WWI directly impacted sales. Many, including Ferdinand Hodler, publicly protested the September invasion by Germany of France in which the Reims Cathedral, re-built in the 13th century, was shelled, destroying priceless stained glass and statuary and burning off the iron roof and badly damaging its wooden interior. Thomas Gaehtgens, Director of the Getty Research Institute describes how the bombing of Reims Cathedral triggered blindingly powerful and deeply-felt ultra-nationalistic responses: “The event profoundly shocked French intellectuals, who for the most part had an intense admiration for German literature, music and art. By relying on press accounts and abstracting from the visual propagandistic content, they were unable to interpret the siege of Reims without turning away from German culture in disgust. Similarly, the German intelligentsia and bourgeoisie were also shocked to find themselves described as vandals and barbarians. Ninety-three writers, scientists, university professors, and artists signed a protest, directed against the French insults, that defended the actions of the German army.” In similar fashion, a flurry of open letters published in German newspapers and journals as well as telegrams and postcards sent directly to Hodler following his outcry in support of Reims reflected the collectively critical reaction to Hodler’s position. Loosli documents that among the list of telegrams Hodler received was one from none other than his publisher in Germany, R.Piper & Co. Allegiances were questioned. The market for Hodler in Germany immediately softened. Matters worsened for the publisher beyond the German backlash to Hodler and his loss of appeal in the home market; with the war in full swing until 1918, there was little chance a German publisher would have much interest coming from outside of Germany and Austria. Following the war and Hodler’s death in 1918, the economy in Germany continued to spiral out and just 5 years later, hyper-inflation had rendered its currency worthless vis-a-vis its value in the pre-war years. Like the economy, Hodler’s reputation was slow to find currency in these difficult times. Even many French art fans had turned sour on Hodler as they considered his long-standing relationship in German and Austrian art circles. Thus, the portfolio’s rarity in Hodler’s lifetime and, consequently, the availability of these printed images from DAS WERK FERDINAND HODLERS since his death has been scarce. In many ways, Hodler and his portfolios were casualties of war. Thwarted from their intended purpose of reaching a wide audience and show-casing Parallelisme, Hodler’s unique approach to art, this important, undated work has been both elusive and shrouded in mystery. Perhaps DAS WERK FERDINAND HODLERS was left undated as a means of affirming the timelessness of Hodler’s art. Digging back into the past, Hodler’s contemporaries, like R. Piper, C.A. Loosli and Hans Muhlestein, indeed provide the keys to unequivocally clarify what has largely been mired in obscurity. Just after Hodler’s death, the May, 1918 issue of the Burlington Review ran a small column which opined hope for better access to R.Piper & Co.’s DAS WERK FERDINAND HODLERS; 100 years later, it is finally possible. Hodler’s voice rings out through these printed works. Once more, his modern approach to depicting portraits, landscapes and grand scale scenes of Swiss history speak to us of what is universal. Engaging with any one of these images is the chance to connect to Hodler’s vision and his world view- weltanschauung in German, vision du monde in French- however one expresses these concepts through language, its message embedded in his work is the same: “We differ from one another, but we are like each other even more. What unifies us is greater and more powerful than what divides us.” Today, Hodler’s art couldn’t be more timely. FERDINAND HODLER (SWISS, 1853-1918) explored Parallelisme through figurative poses evocative of music, dance and ritual. His images of sex, night, desertion and death as well as his many landscapes exploring the universal longing for harmony with Nature are unique and important works embodying a Symbolist paradigm. Truly a Modern Master, Hodler’s influence can be felt in the work of Gustav Klimt and Kolomon Moser...

Das Grosse Tier II is an original etching and drypoint, realized by Richard Müller in 1919, signed on the plate, numbered 60/74 and signed in pencil l...

The European Macabre Dance N.6 is a hand-colored lithograph, from the Series "La Danza Macabra Europea" illustrated by Alberto Martini (Oderzo, 1876 – Milan, 1954) in 1915. Signed ...

Seaside from Intermezzi belongs to a series of prints called Intermezzi realized by Max Klinger, published by Nurnberg: Stroefer, 1881. Etching on paper. Signed on the plate Good ...

Nude of a man is a wonderful double-colored lithograph on paper realized by the German artist, Max Lingner (Leipzig, 1988- Berlin, 1969). Signature and date on plate on lower right...

Etching and aquatint realized in 1909. Belongs to the series "Amor und Psyche. Opus V". Very good condition.

Etching after Bocklin, realized in the early 20th Century. Titled in the plate in bottom center. Published by Druck & Verlag. Very good condition.

Etching realized in 1922 to illustrate Richard Strauss' work. Hand signed in pencil ower right. A tear in the right margin and a corner crease in the upper right, otherwise overall...

Etching realized by Josef von Diveky in 1920. Image dimension 19x13 cm. Edition of 78/100. Signed and dated in pencil lower right, titled in pencil lower left. Numbered in pencil ...

Chimera with Green Eyes is an original lithograph on Chine collé, realized by Odilon Redon in 1888, plate 7 from “Les tentations de St.Antoine” (1ère série), unique state, first e...

Ex Libris  - Giorgio Balbi - Piu Forte della Morte è Amore is an Artwork realized by Alberto Martini in Mid 20th Century.

Abel Pann (1883–1963) was a European Jewish painter who settled in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem in the early twentieth century and taught at the Bezalel Academy of Art under...

Les Pavots Noirs is a prototype reproduction realized after Odilon Redon. They belong to the suite "Odilon Redon Peintre, Dessinateur et Graveur", published by Henri Felury in 1923....

Illustration from the series "Les Fleurs du Mal" is an etching print realized after Odilon Redon and published by Henri Felury in 1923. Monogrammed on the plate. Good conditions, w...

Running Death from Intermezzi belongs to a series of prints called Intermezzi realized by Max Klinger, published by Nurnberg: Stroefer, 1881. Etching on paper. Signed and dated on ...

Chute d’un Ange is an original drypoint on laid paper realized by Félicien Rops, hand monogrammed and inscribed "Ah! N'insultez jambs une femme qui tombe!". In very good conditions....

Romance is from Illustrations for Cressidra, a print on paper realized by André Suares in 1926.  Etching and drypoint Edition of 200 print Good conditions.

"Ex Libris"  is an  Etching, Ex Libris, on ivory-colorated paper by Michel Fingesten . In excellent conditions: As good as new. Hand-signed in pencil, on the lower right. Container...

James Ensor (1860-1949), Exterminating Angel (L'Ange Exterminateur), etching with drypoint, 1889, signed and dated in pencil lower right, also titled and countersigned verso. Referen...

Simplicius at the Hermit's Grave- Simplicius am Grabe des Einsiedlers (plate VIII) belongs to a series of prints called Intermezzi realized by Max Klinger, published by Nurnberg: Str...

Venus in Muschelwagen is a superb black and white etching on paper, realized in 1907 by the German artist Eduard Einschlag (Leipzig 1879 -1945), after Max Klinger (Leipzig 1857 - Gro...

The Death is from Illustrations for Cressidra, a print on paper realized by André Suares in 1926.  Etching and drypoint Edition of 200 print Good conditions.

Opus IV, Simplicius in der Waldeinode (Simplicius in the Wilderness) belongs to a series of prints called Intermezzi realized by Max Klinger, published by Nurnberg: Stroefer, 1881. ...

Fallen Rider  is a modern artwork realized by Max Klinger in 1881. The artwork belongs to a series of prints called Intermezzi realized by Max Klinger, published by Nurnberg: Stroef...

Lovers is from Illustrations for Cressidra, a print on paper realized by André Suares in 1926.  Etching and drypoint Edition of 200 print. Good conditions.

The Arrow is from Illustrations for Cressidra, a print on paper realized by André Suares in 1926.  Etching and drypoint Edition of 200 print, Including a Passepartout Good conditi...

Grief is from Illustrations for Cressidra, a print on paper realized by André Suares in 1926.  Etching and drypoint Edition of 200 print. Including a Passepartout. Good conditions...

Lovers is from Illustrations for Cressidra, a print on paper realized by André Suares in 1926.  Etching and drypoint Edition of 200 print. Good conditions.

"Ex Libris - Cross"  is a woodcut on ivory-colorated paper by Michel Fingesten,  Early 20th Century. Hand signed and with hand notes in pencil. In excellent conditions: As good as ne...

Dance is from Illustrations for Cressidra, a print on paper realized by André Suares in 1926.  Etching and drypoint Edition of 200 print, Including a Passepartout Good conditions.

Lovers is from Illustrations for Cressidra, a print on paper realized by André Suares in 1926.  Etching and drypoint Edition of 200 print, Including a Passepartout Good conditions.

The Journey is from Illustrations for Cressidra, a print on paper realized by André Suares in 1926.  Etching and drypoint Edition of 200 print, Including a Passepartout Good condi...

"Ex Libris - Cross"  is a woodcut on ivory-colorated paper by Michel Fingesten,  Early 20th Century. Hand signed and with hand notes in pencil. In excellent conditions: As good as ne...

Héliogravure on japanese paper realized by Fraz von Bayros in 1913 for Ex Libris Verlag K. Th. Senger, Munich. Mounted on passepartout. Edition of 260, hand signed in pencil by the ...

Héliogravure on japanese paper realized by Fraz von Bayros in 1913 for Ex Libris Verlag K. Th. Senger, Munich. Mounted on passepartout. Edition of 260, hand signed in pencil by the ...

Abel Pann (1883–1963) was a European Jewish painter who settled in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem in the early twentieth century and taught at the Bezalel Academy of Art under...

Image dimensions: 24.5 x 31.5 cm. Centaur In The Smithy is an original print, realized in 1898. Black and white xylograph on applied Japon paper. Good conditions except for yellowing of paper (especially along the margins), and very light foxings on lower part of paper. The print was realized by Johann Jacob Weber and it's part of the series Meisterwerke der Holzschneidekunst (original title: SECHZEHN HOLZSCHNITTE NACH GEMÄLDEN ARNOLD BÖCKLIN...

The Rider is an original impressive color lithograph, realized in the first half of the XX century by Franz Müller-Münster. The artwork represents a naked rider with two horses on the beach...

Simplicius' Writing Lesson (Simplici Schreibstunde) (plate VII) belongs to a series of prints called Intermezzi realized by Max Klinger, published by Nurnberg: Stroefer, 1881. Etchi...

Abel Pann (1883–1963) was a European Jewish painter who settled in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem in the early twentieth century and taught at the Bezalel Academy of Art under...

Abel Pann (1883–1963) was a European Jewish painter who settled in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem in the early twentieth century and taught at the Bezalel Academy of Art under...

Abel Pann (1883–1963) was a European Jewish painter who settled in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem in the early twentieth century and taught at the Bezalel Academy of Art under...

Dante's Vision is a lithograph realized after a watercolor by Odilon Redon. They belong to the suite "Odilon Redon Peintre, Dessinateur et Graveur", published by Henri Felury in 19...

"Ex Libris - Mantero"  is an etching on ivory-colorated paper by  Michel Fingesten,  Early 20th Century. Hand signed in pencil. In excellent conditions: As good as new. Michel Finge...

"Ex Libris"  1990s is a woodcut on ivory-colorated paper by Anonymous Artist of the  20th Century. Illegible Hand signed and with hand notes in pencil. In excellent conditions: As go...

Lady is from Illustrations for Cressidra, a print on paper realized by André Suares in 1926.  Etching and drypoint Edition of 200 print, Included a Passepartout. Good conditions.

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

Shepherd is from Illustrations for Cressidra, a print on paper realized by André Suares in 1926.  Etching and drypoint Edition of 200 print, Including a Passepartout Good conditions.

"Weihnacht" is an original Black and white héliogravure on cream-colored cardboard realized by Choisy Le Conin, pseudonym of Franz Von Bayros (Agram, 1866 – Vienna, 1924). From Map...

Love, Death and the Beyond is a original modern artwork realized by Max Klinger in 1881. The artwork belongs to a series of prints called Intermezzi realized by Max Klinger, publish...

Altar of the Fatherland  is a modern artwork realized by Antonio Carbonati in 1947. Black and white etching Includes passepartout Hand signed and dated on the lower margin Original title: Altare della Patria Campidoglio - Palatino dai balconi di casa Carcano sul Colle Aventino Good conditions except for yellowing of paper. Antonio Carbonati (1893 - 1956).  He published a series of engravings of...

Altar of the Fatherland  is a modern artwork realized by Antonio Carbonati in 1947. Black and white etching Includes passepartout Hand signed and dated on the lower margin Original title: Altare della Patria Campidoglio - Palatino dai balconi di casa Carcano sul Colle Aventino Good conditions except for yellowing of paper. Antonio Carbonati (1893 - 1956).  He published a series of engravings of...