Max Klinger

Gustav Kirstein, Leipzig (d. 1934)
Clara Stein Kirstein, Leipzig (wife of Gustav Kirstein, inherited from the above in 1934; remained in her possession until 1939) 
Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig (by 1939) 
Restituted to the heirs of Gustav and Clara Stein Kirstein in 2000 (and sold, Sotheby's, London, March 29, 2001, lot 47, illustrated, with correct cataloguing listed under lot 48 in the printed catalogue)
Acquired at the above sale

Leipzig, P.H. Beyer & Sohn, Ausstellung anlässlich des 60. Geburtstages von Max Klinger, 1917, no. 60
Frankfurt am Main, Städelsches Kunstinstitut; Wuppertal, Germany, Von der Heydt Museum, Max Klinger 1857-1920, February 12 - September 6, 1992, no. 140

E.A. Seemann Verlag, Max Klinger. Bestandskatalog der Bilderwerke, Gemälde und Zeichnungen im Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig, Leipzig, 1995, p. 210, no. C427, illustrated 

The following condition report was kindly provided by Alvarez Conservation Services: This pen, black chalk and ink heightened with white gouache on paper is in good condition overall. The paper is adhered to the original acidic top mat around all four edges making it difficult to determine exactly how it is adhered to the 4-ply acidic mount. It is possible the sheet is totally adhered to the mount. The paper does not present tears, paper losses, or distortions. There are faint splatter marks scattered throughout the image, possibly from contact with water.The paper is mildly oxidized from contact with acidic material and a natural process of aging due to light exposure. This is visible throughout the sheet. There are incipient foxing spots scattered throughout the image with a few darker more prominent spots; one near the signature in the lower left and one in the lower right corners. Otherwise, the media appears to be well preserved. A full treatment report from Alvarez Conservation Services is available upon request.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Im Park is a preliminary drawing for an etching of the same title (fig. 1) that is part of the album titled Eine Liebe (A Love) (1887-1903). The album tells the story of a passionate love affair that meets an untimely end, an affair that was possibly based on an episode of Klinger’s own life. The present work was first owned by Gustav Kirstein of Leipzig, who had a sizeable collection of Klinger’s works and who worked with the artist on the publication of his graphic works. Upon Kirstein's death in 1934, the collection was bequeathed to his wife, Clara Stein Kirsetin. Along with the rest of Gustav’s renowned collection, the present work was forcibly seized by the Nazis in 1939. It then entered the collection of the Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig. It remained in the Museum until 2000, when the collection was restituted to its rightful owners, the heirs of Gustav and Clara Stein Kirstein, through the efforts of the Commission for Art Recovery of the World Jewish Congress.