Karl Hubbuch

Private Collection (acquired from the artist circa 1960; sale: Sotheby's London, 21st June 2005, lot 402)
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

Mannheim, Städtischen Kunsthalle, Neue Sachlichkeit, 1994-95, illustrated in colour in the catalogue

The board is stable and all four edges are attached to a board which covers the extreme edges of the verso. There is a small support loss to the lower part of the extreme left edge with associated paint loss. There are a few other tiny losses to each of the four edges. UV examination reveals a tiny spot of retouching towards the upper right corner. There are a few scattered surface scratches. Otherwise, this work is in overall good condition.
"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."

Karl Hubbuch was a German painter, printmaker and draftsman associated with the Neue Sachlichkeit movement that arose in Germany in the early 1920s in opposition to Expressionism.  In 1925, Hubbuch famously exhibited at the seminal Neue Sachlichkeit exhibition at the Kunsthalle in Mannheim, which included the present work. His works at this exhibition were sharply realistic in style and highly critical of the social and economic order of the time. His style was partly indebt to his friendship with Georg Grosz, who inspired Hubbuch to paint as a critical observer of the contemporary urban environment.