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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE GERMAN COLLECTION
OTTO FREUNDLICH (1878-1943)
Komposition in Blau
Details
OTTO FREUNDLICH (1878-1943)
Komposition in Blau
signed with the artist's initial 'F' (lower right); signed, dated and inscribed 'm.l. Freundin Hedwig Muschg, von Otto Freundlich. Paris. 1931.' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
21 5⁄8 x 18 in. (55 x 45.5 cm.)
Painted in Paris in 1931
A collection’s many journeys
The works in this family collection were carefully brought together by a passionate collector and enthusiast of the arts over a period of almost thirty years, starting in the early 1960s. Works were bought after much consideration from a few trusted gallerists, occasionally at auction, or, wherever possible, from the artists themselves. Treasures that artists including Hannah Hoch and Walter Dexel had hidden during the Second World War were finally purchased with a combination of money and charm after much discussion of their respective merits. Emerging artists including Richard Oelze and Friedensreich Hundertwasser were supported with, for example, the occasional purchase of a work. The collector would drive through the night across Germany and Switzerland to visit artist friends, attend museum openings or view auction previews. Each new purchase was shown to the family and explained and discussed before finding its place on the walls of the family home. This was not investment, this was a ceaseless passion. The collection was to be enjoyed, on the walls of the family home, and also by the general public – no museum loan request was declined and as the reputation of the rarities in this private collection grew, more museum loan requests would follow. There was a constant stream of shippers arriving at the door collecting loans for museums across Germany and the United States. The collection’s journey has continued for another thirty years in the hands of the collector’s family after his passing. Some of the masterpieces in the collection found their way to prestigious museum collections and others are now being sold, so that they can continue on the next phase of their journey.
Komposition in Blau
signed with the artist's initial 'F' (lower right); signed, dated and inscribed 'm.l. Freundin Hedwig Muschg, von Otto Freundlich. Paris. 1931.' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
21 5⁄8 x 18 in. (55 x 45.5 cm.)
Painted in Paris in 1931
A collection’s many journeys
The works in this family collection were carefully brought together by a passionate collector and enthusiast of the arts over a period of almost thirty years, starting in the early 1960s. Works were bought after much consideration from a few trusted gallerists, occasionally at auction, or, wherever possible, from the artists themselves. Treasures that artists including Hannah Hoch and Walter Dexel had hidden during the Second World War were finally purchased with a combination of money and charm after much discussion of their respective merits. Emerging artists including Richard Oelze and Friedensreich Hundertwasser were supported with, for example, the occasional purchase of a work. The collector would drive through the night across Germany and Switzerland to visit artist friends, attend museum openings or view auction previews. Each new purchase was shown to the family and explained and discussed before finding its place on the walls of the family home. This was not investment, this was a ceaseless passion. The collection was to be enjoyed, on the walls of the family home, and also by the general public – no museum loan request was declined and as the reputation of the rarities in this private collection grew, more museum loan requests would follow. There was a constant stream of shippers arriving at the door collecting loans for museums across Germany and the United States. The collection’s journey has continued for another thirty years in the hands of the collector’s family after his passing. Some of the masterpieces in the collection found their way to prestigious museum collections and others are now being sold, so that they can continue on the next phase of their journey.
Provenance
Hedwig Muschg, Switzerland.
Dr. Georg Schmidt, Basel, by whom probably acquired from the above, by 1960.
Anonymous sale, Kornfeld & Klipstein, Bern, 13 June 1968, lot 350.
Private collection, North Germany, by July 1978.
Dr. Georg Schmidt, Basel, by whom probably acquired from the above, by 1960.
Anonymous sale, Kornfeld & Klipstein, Bern, 13 June 1968, lot 350.
Private collection, North Germany, by July 1978.
Literature
J. Heusinger von Waldegg, Otto Freundlich: Monographie mit Dokumentation und Werkverzeichnis, Cologne, 1978, no. 161, p. 89 (illustrated fig. 182, p. 176).
Exh. cat. Otto Freundlich, Pointoise, 2009, p. 66 (illustrated fig. 14).
Exh. cat. Otto Freundlich, Pointoise, 2009, p. 66 (illustrated fig. 14).
Exhibited
Cologne, Wallraff-Richartz Museum, Otto Freundlich, Gemälde, Graphik, Skulpturen, May - July 1960, no. 25.
Hamburg, Galerie Brockstedt, Die Progressiven, May - June 1975.
Paris, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris-Berlin, 1900-1933: rapports et contrastes France-Allemagne, July - November 1978, p. 246 (illustrated).
Ingelheim am Rhein, Stadt Ingelheim, 100 Jahre Kunst in Deutschland, 1885-1985, April - June 1985, no. 48, p. 106 (illustrated p. 107).
Regensburg, Museum Ostdeutsche Galerie, Otto Freundlich, ein Wegbereiter der abstrakten Kunst, September - October 1994, no. 9, p. 100 (illustrated p. 145); this exhibition later travelled to Osnabrück, Kulturgeschichtliches Museum, November 1994 - January 1995.
Cologne, Museum Ludwig, Otto Freundlich, Cosmic Communism, February - May 2017 (illustrated pp. 271 & 340); this exhibition later travelled to Basel, Kunstmuseum, June - September 2017.
Hamburg, Galerie Brockstedt, Die Progressiven, May - June 1975.
Paris, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris-Berlin, 1900-1933: rapports et contrastes France-Allemagne, July - November 1978, p. 246 (illustrated).
Ingelheim am Rhein, Stadt Ingelheim, 100 Jahre Kunst in Deutschland, 1885-1985, April - June 1985, no. 48, p. 106 (illustrated p. 107).
Regensburg, Museum Ostdeutsche Galerie, Otto Freundlich, ein Wegbereiter der abstrakten Kunst, September - October 1994, no. 9, p. 100 (illustrated p. 145); this exhibition later travelled to Osnabrück, Kulturgeschichtliches Museum, November 1994 - January 1995.
Cologne, Museum Ludwig, Otto Freundlich, Cosmic Communism, February - May 2017 (illustrated pp. 271 & 340); this exhibition later travelled to Basel, Kunstmuseum, June - September 2017.
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