Der Dom - 10 woodcut portfolio by Max Thalmann

Der Dom - 10 woodcut portfolio by Max Thalmann

Der Dom - 10 woodcut portfolio

Max Thalmann

Title

Der Dom - 10 woodcut portfolio

 
Artist

Max Thalmann

  1890 - 1944 (biography)
Year
1923 /24 
Technique
woodcuts in loose leaf folio 
Image Size
26 5/8 x 19 1/2" paper size, images vary 
Signature
each initialed in pencil, lower right; monogram in block, various locations 
Edition Size
250 
Annotations
 
Reference
Henkel 2011, no. 16.1-10 
Paper
antique-white wove 
State
published 
Publisher
Verlag Eugen Diederichs 
Inventory ID
21883 
Price
SOLD
Description

These 10 images, abstractions of cathedral interiors and ceremonies, were created by the artist in 1923 and published in 1924. The portfolio remains one of Max Thalmann's most well recognized works, and a strong example of the post-World War I German Expressionist style, replete with the hallmarks of modern spirituality that dominated much of the Eastern European art world at the time.

Thalmann worked primarily as a bookbinder and illustrator but, in between, did 3 portfolios that used the stark geometric lines and angles, symmetry and simplicity that was taught at the Bauhaus. His images also embraced the Japanese concept of "Notan" involving the interplay of light and dark. 'Notan' means dark versus light harmony, using the simple concept of contrasting light and dark shapes, or, black versus white.

This portfolio is contained in its original loose-leaf Atlas-style folio, measuring 25" tall, with original parchment wraps. The decorative woodcut title is printed in black on the parchment, and gilt on the blue linen cover of the folio itself. Included in the collection is a typeset introduction on the artist and the works, written by Gustav Friedrich Hartlaub, art historian and then-director of the Kunsthalle Mannheim, Germany.

The portfolio was done in an edition of 300, of which 50 were fully pencil signed and editioned. The remaining 250 were initialed by Thalmann, such as this portfolio, number 61.