George Ehrenfried Grosz (German/American, 1893-1959) Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht

Description:

George Ehrenfried Grosz (German/American, 1893-1959)

Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht, c. 1922
Signed "Grosz" in pen l.r., inscribed and titled "...ca. 1922...Eltern..." with a
stamp from the George Grosz Nachlass on the reverse.
Ink on paper, sheet size 23 1/8 x 15 3/4 in. (58.7 x 40.0 cm),framed.
Condition: Center crease, subtle rippling and foxing, mat burn, subtle toning, cloth tape hinged to backing mat, tape residue to the reverse.

Provenance: Purchased from Galleria dell'Obelisco Rome, Italy; collection of Melvin B. Nessel, Boston, Massachusetts.

N.B. We wish to thank Ralph Jentsch who kindly confirmed the authenticity of the lot and assisted with its cataloging. The work is registered as no. 3-10-2 with the George Grosz Estate, and will be included in Ralph Jentsch's forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the artist.

The present work is a preliminary drawing related to a published work of the same year, which has been reproduced under the titles, "Gottes sichtbarer Segen ist bei mir.," from Friedrich Schiller, Die Raüber (Act II, Scene 3),Plate 6, Der Malik-Verlag, Berlin, 1922; "Ein trautes Weib, ein herzig Kind, das ist mein Himmel auf der Erde.," from George Grosz, Abrechnung folgt!, Der Malik-Verlag, Berlin, 1923, p. 31; and "Gottes sichtbarer Segen ruht auf uns," from George Grosz, Die Gezeichneten, Der Malik-Verlag, Berlin, 1930, p. 43. A single plate from the portfolio Die Raüber has appeared annotated by Grosz with the same title of the present work.


Estimate $6,000-8,000

The work is inscribed "Arbeitsfriede" on the reverse which in Mr. Jentsch's opinion was a cancelled title in the artist's hand; handling creases, old clear and paper tape residue to the corners verso, center horizontal crease partially reinforced by paper tape along left edge.

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