Lot 348
  • 348

August Macke

Estimate
150,000 - 200,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • August Macke
  • ADAM UND EVA (ADAM AND EVE)
  • stamped with the Nachlass mark on the reverse and twice on the stretcher

  • oil on canvas
  • 40.4 by 50.6cm., 15 7/8 by 19 7/8 in.

Provenance

Margrit Bernard, Bad Achen
Private Collection, Switzerland
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Literature

Gustav Vriesen, August Macke, Stuttgart, 1953, no. 224, illustrated p. 319

Condition

The canvas is wax-lined. There are artist's pinholes to all four corners, visible when framed. There are no signs of retouching visible under UV light. This work is in good condition. Colours: Overall accurate, although slightly deeper in the original.
"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."

Catalogue Note

August Macke's Adam und Eva, dating from 1910, is a magnificent example of the artist's debt to the Fauves and their fascination with bold colour and simplicity of form. Macke had begun introducing fauve motifs into his watercolours in early 1908, and later that year travelled to Paris for the second time, giving him a greater awareness of the innovations of the Parisian avant-garde. He was particularly inspired by the example of Matisse, and at the beginning of the 1910 did a series of sketches inspired by Matisse's Notes d'un peintre. This influence is clearly evident in the present work, which uses a simple composition to accentuate the expressive power of colour.