Academic Nudes of the 19th Century

Monday, March 7, 2011

Wilhelm Gallhof (1878-1918): Female Nude (Die Korallen-Kette) The Coral-Chain

Every so often I run across a painting that just takes my breath away. This morning I was browsing my favorite German Auction Houses and I ran across a current offering, a beautiful female nude, that did just that..... took my breath away. If you have an extra Euro 3,700.00+ to get started, you can take this one home with you. The detail in the materials around the figure is amazing and I am jealous. The figure itself is so beautifully rendered by color and brush stroke and the painting is done in such a manner as to be beautiful in every sense of the word and not offensive in its implied eroticism, simply a celebration of youth and the intense beauty of the human body. I thought I would post it separately for your enjoyment.
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Wilhelm Gallhof (1878 at Iserlohn - Died in Action 1918) was a German artist who studied in Munich, Karlsruhe, and with Lovis Corinth in Berlin. He worked in Weimar and Paris and was represented in many national and international exhibitions. As a sculptor and graphic artist, he was equally successful and brilliant as a painter. This particular painting appeared as a full page display in the German Magazine: Jugend (Youth), 1917, Volume II, No. 42, page 824/825). What a terrible shame that war had to take this wonderfully talented human being.
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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Auction and Gallery Finds: March 3, 2011

The European auction sites this week have a few new listings of figurative works that I have culled out for posting. There are a few crayon-manner prints from the 18th century, which surprisingly continue to command some exceptional pricing. I found a few ex libris prints from the early 20th century. Although usually small, comparatively, these types of prints are popular with many collectors, especially erotic prints. I have a book with hundreds of erotic ex libris prints illustrated, executed mostly by Hungarian artists. They were usually done for a specific customer by the artist in limited runs, thus their popularity and individual scarceness. It doesn't look like European prices have come down any from several months ago, so be prepared to part with some cash for works and the shipping charges.
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(Above) This is actually an original red chalk drawing from the 18th century. Compare it to the chalk manner prints listed below in the rest of the post. I think if I had to reproduce this drawing on an etching plate I would have permanently crossed eyes. I wouldn't be able to see straight for a year, not to mention having a colossal headache.