Modern Discoveries

Ludwig Bemelmans

Seals Asking Whales (Sketch for "Marina")

Lot Closed

March 17, 06:34 PM GMT

Estimate

4,000 - 6,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Property from a New York City Estate

Ludwig Bemelmans

1898 - 1962

Seals Asking Whales (Sketch for "Marina")

stamped L. Bemelmans (lower right)

mixed media and collage on paper

image: 12 3/5 by 21 1/2 in. (32 by 54.6 cm.)

sheet: 16 1/4 by 24 in. (41.3 by 61 cm.)

Executed circa 1962.

(probably) Hammer Galleries, Inc., New York

Acquired from the above by the present owner

The present work is a sketch for an illustration included in Ludwig Bemelman’s book Marina. After getting swallowed by sharks at the beach, seals assist in searching for Marina and happen upon a group of whales. The whales decline to assist, exclaiming, “Too bad--life in the ocean is very iffy.'"