Paul Klee (1879-1940)
FORMERLY IN THE COLLECTION OF KARL JULIUS ANSELMINO
Paul Klee (1879-1940)

Laternenfest Bauhaus (Bauhaus Lanterns Festival)

Details
Paul Klee (1879-1940)
Laternenfest Bauhaus (Bauhaus Lanterns Festival)
watercolour over lithograph on paper
3 ½ x 5 5/8 in. (8.9 x 14.4 cm.)
Executed in 1922
Provenance
Ottilie Schäfer, Weimar.
Marie Hanau, Elberfeld, a gift from the above in June 1922.
Karl Julius Anselmino, Wuppertal.
Acquired from the above by the present owner.
Literature
H. Bayer, W. & I. Gropius, Bauhaus 1919-1928, New York, 1938, p. 84 (another version illustrated).
J. Thrall Soby, The Prints of Paul Klee, New York, 1947 (another version illustrated pl. 30).
M. Franciscono, 'Paul Klees kubistische Graphik' in exh. cat., Paul Klee; Das graphische and plastische Werk, Duisburg, 1974, p. 54 (another version illustrated).
F. Klee, Paul Klee, Rosenwind: Farbbilder, Zeichnungen und autobiographische Notizen, Freiburg, Basel & Vienna, 1984, p. 41.
The Paul Klee Foundation, ed., Paul Klee: Catalogue Raisonné, vol. III, 1919-1922, Bern, 1999, no. 3087, p. 474 (another version illustrated).
E.W. Kornfeld, Paul Klee: Verzeichnis des graphischen Werkes von Paul Klee, Bern, 2005, no. 87, pp. 228-229 (another version illustrated p. 229).
Exhibited
On loan to the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen München, by 1979 and until 2017.

Brought to you by

Ottavia Marchitelli
Ottavia Marchitelli

Lot Essay

Laternenfest Bauhaus was designed as a postcard for the Bauhaus Lantern Festival of 1922, with a limited number, including the present lot, hand-coloured by the artist. Other examples of this watercolour over lithograph are housed in museums such as the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, and National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.

The text on the reverse of the present work reads:
'Weimar, 25. VI. 22.
Wörthstr. 48
Dear M.’chen,
This is a genuine Klee, appreciate it despite the apparent ridiculousness. Most notably: When is the wedding?? I am miserable: the beautiful book I wanted to give to you both is out of print, will not be published anymore at present. Are you very involved in preparations, is mother there? – I was promised my own studio here, that will be paid for by the state. The university acquired a head from me the day before yesterday. I attended 2 artist festivities; the modern Bauhaus is very stimulating and attracts many interesting people. This is good. Otherwise W. is narrow-minded. I just do something good. Do write eventually!
Cordially, yours
Ottilie / Sculptress Ottilie Schäfer
I’m coming in autumn!'

More from Impressionist and Modern Works on Paper

View All
View All