George Minne (1866-1941)

Acquired directly from the artist between 1899 and 1903 by
Dr. Max Linde, Lübeck
Thence by descent to the present owner

George Minne was a very talented artist who as a student made an incredible progress in a short period of time. He soon discovered he wanted to be a sculptor and that he wanted to focus on the human being and especially on the psychology of his subjects. Minne finished his studies around 1885 and five years later he was part of the artistic world in Brussels. He was allowed into various salons, was welcomed into the club of les XX, the gallery of the important Parisian art dealer Durand Ruel and was even well acquainted to Rodin, who was, already at that time, a renowned sculptor.

His themes often deal with pain, anxiety, sorrow and despair, usually personified by mother and child and in his early work he translated these vehement emotions into their facial and physical expressions. In later work however, one can see how he conveys these feelings into an even more touching way; he lets his subjects endure these torments with resignation, introspection and sometimes even almost in meditation. Drie Heilige Vrouwen aan het Graf from 1889  is a good example of  this ascetic attitude (lot 62). 
A year later he created Baadster (Bather). It is the first in a series of bathers, a new theme in his oeuvre. Compared to Drie Heilige Vrouwen aan het Graf, the bather shows a more open and active composition. The refined and powerful pose of the female with her head turned away and the raised elbow shows a great care for the line. This manieristic pose inspired Gustave Klimt in his painting Wasserschlangen of 1904-1907.

Bather was executed in alabaster, wood, plaster and bronze. This very sculpture was conceived and cast in 1899 and bought directly from the artist by the private collector Dr. Max Linde from Lübeck.