Maria Melania Mutermilch (Mela Muter)

Private Collection, Israel

The canvas has been relined. Apart from some light retouching visible to the upper right and lower left corners under ultraviolet light, and some light surface dirt and craquelure to the heavier areas of impasto, this work is in good overall condition. Held in a narrow, decorative, gold-painted moulded plaster and wood frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Painted in the mid 1920s.

Mela Muter travelled frenquently to Collioure, visiting nearly every year between 1921 and 1926. The church of Notre Dame des Anges can be seen as a reference point in the background. She found Collioure to be charming; a fishing town surrounded by history with its fortifications and towers. The fishing boats with their sashes of blue and red and green, the rooftops of orange and pink and the reflections off the water was a symphony of colour. Clearly interested in maintaining clean lines and true colour, Muter left areas of the canvas blank. The raw canvas in the foreground adds a palpable dimension to the docked boats reinforcing their significance to Collioure and its livelihood.