Kathe Kollwitz's etching, “Mourning Man”, 1919

Kathe Kollwitz (1867–1945)

“Mourning Man” (Trauernder Mann), the left side of the larger composition before the plate was cut, “Memorial to Karl Liebknecht” (Gedenkblatt für Karl Liebknecht), 1919, published posthumously by Johanna and Bernhard von der Becke, Munich (1963–1972).

Soft and hard ground etching, aquatint with plate tone in warm black (umber) ink on cream-coloured wove paper with margins and the “MUENCHEN-22” von der Becke blindstamp at lower right of the impression.

Size: (sheet) 41.5 x 34.9 cm; (plate) 27.8 x 15.8 cm; (image borderline) 27.4 x 15.2 cm.

State v (of v).

Klipstein 1955, no. 137, V.A.b (August Klipstein 1955, “Käthe Kollwitz, Verzeichnis des graphischen Werkes”, Bern, Klipstein & Co, pp. 184–85.)

Madeleine Viljoen offers the following insights about this print in the exhibition catalogue for La Salle University Art Museum’s exhibition, "Graphic Expressions: The Prints of Kathe Kollwitz" (Winter 2006, cat. no. 11):

“Originally part of a larger composition for the Memorial for Karl Liebknecht, which depicted a group of mourners, this print was created when the plate was later cut in half. Karl Liebknecht was one the founders of the Berlin Spartakusbund (Spartacus League) that evolved into the Communist Party of Germany. On January 15, 1919, Liebknecht was shot to death during the Spartacus Revolt on the pretext that he was attempting escape.”

(http://digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1106&context=exhibition_catalogues)

See also the insights about this print offered by Spaightwood Galleries:

http://spaightwoodgalleries.com/Pages/Kollwitz4_Tragedies.html

Condition: richly inked and near faultless impression with wide margins. There are pencil notations by previous collectors along the lower edge of the sheet, otherwise the sheet is in near pristine condition.

I am selling this visually arresting etching revealing Kollwitz’s creative exploration of combining soft-ground textures with crisp hard-ground lines, for AU$630 (currently US$429.65/EUR388.54/GBP333.08 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this thoughtfully conceived and delicately powerful image, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold