Klaus Dechert, offer for readers

Klaus Dechert (II)

(1930-2007)

German Moku Hanga printmaker. 

(rare offer for Blog readers & visitors)

Almost two years ago I shared my discovery of the traditionally created  Japanese prints by Klaus Dechert (see here*). Recently reader Markus, a relative of the artist, has send me pictures of some more examples of his (framed) work that are in his possesion. 

Prints by Dechert are hardly ever seen on the market and for those who would like to own a print by Klaus Dechert: the prints shown here are all for sale. A rare opportunity and, for the moment before offering them to an auction house, exclusively for readers of the Linosaurus. Markus has asked me to forward any seriously interested requests. Which I will happily do.  

(You'll find my email under the contact button, above) 

Janina Konarska, Polish printmaker

Janina Konarska (born Seideman) - Słonimska

Łódź  1900 - 1975 Warsaw

Polish painter, sculptor and woodblock printmaker

I stumbled upon a print by this Polish artist and here’s the result of my initial  research. Amazingly Janina Konarska is hardly known outside Poland and all text I could find I had to translate. But here is: all color woodblock prints I could find shown together for the first time in this posting.   

Born in a family of textile factory owners she initially was trained as a teacher artist. Later entering the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts she was Wladyslaw Skoczylas (1883-1934) printmaker and art educator, favourite student.

In 1918 she adopted the artist name of Konarska, which was officialised in 1924 also for her daughter Hanka. During the Polish-Russian War (1918-1921), the fight for Polands' independence, she worked as a nurse treating and caring for the injured soldiers. Janina Konarska exhibited successfully internationally during the 1920's and 1930's in 1932 winning a medal for her “Skiers” in Los Angeles (US).

Konarska in the 1920’s belonged to Poland’s inner circle of intellectuals, artists and writers. Her friends described her as stunningly beautiful: a "Sophie in  Soplicowo Garden” hinting at Poland’ s famous literary national epic epos Pan Tadeuzs (Sir Taddeus) by poet  Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855). Below a still from the 1999 movie (note also the beautiful flowers !)

This 19 pencil sketch below, I could not find any sculptures or paintings by her hand, is of pianist Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982), with Frederique Chopin (1810-1849) and Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) among the most famous of Polands' sons.

Besides Janina's iconic beauty she was an intellectual, and a passionate lover of Polish poetry. And, it is said, of Polish poets, writers and artists. Her turbulent love life was as legendary as her beauty. 

In 1934 to anyones surprise she married writer, poet and journalist Antoni Slonimski (1895-1976) gradually ending her own artistic career dedicating the remainder of her life to her husbands career.

In most of the woodblock prints I’ve found the birds-eye views and depiction of sporting events is eminent. Janina is buried in Warsaw along with her husband, who died in a car accident.

All comments, corrections and additions on this posting are warmly welcomed. See also my posting on Adam Bunsch (1896-1969), very much a contemporary of Janina and also a Polish printmaker unobscured in this Blog. 

All pictures borrowed freely from the Internet for friendly, educational and non commercial use. 

Emilie Mundt and Marie Luplau School of Painting

Emilie Mundt and Marie Luplau

(Continued)

Although from different backgrounds these two ladies were destined to meet as students in Vilhelms Kyhn’s (1819-1903), right, painting school for women in Copenhagen. Emilie Mundt was the daughter of professor Carl Emil Mundt (1802-1973), mathematician and a politician, her mother died when she was very young. Marie Luplau was the daughter of Line Luplau-Monrad (1823-1891) and Daniel Luplau, a vicar. 

Danish coastal landscape by Vilhem Kyhn

Kyhn is considered one of Denmarks traditionalist Golden Age landscape painters. In his very long and prolific life he painted Denmarks rural but changing landscape. Although his school (1865-1895) was very important to the education of women with artistic ambitions it is said he was a fine painter but a less of a teacher and pedagogue.

The official Art Academy wasn’t for women, drawing from the life (nudes) was considered not decent for young ladies, and they were not admitted until 1888. Kyhn in his studio annex school saw some 75 women students, I’ve learned from this online available essay on Mundt and Luplau by Barbara Sjöholm. Mundt, who besides her landscapes was a very good portrait painter showing she could stand her ground in this field of art earlier forbidden to women  (above). Her painting, the reclining and reading lady on the plaid, below is also to be found on the wall in the photographs by Mary Steen showing their combined studio.

Photographs by Mary Steen, combined the show the studio of both women.

The couple later decided to travel to Munich for further education but not exactly finding there what they hoped for either. Paris, Italy and Britain they visited too. Both ladies knew very well what they wanted and decided starting their own painting school for women later assimilated into the Royal Academy , they’ve seen over 400 students . 

Coastal view by Marie Luplau is also seen on the easel in the studio photograph above

They set up a household and studios in Copenhagen. Reading the essay I’ve met some very progressive an equally artistic women, Harriet Backer and Kitty Kieland, painters, feminists and a couple too. Anna Ancher (1859-1935), left and below, who had been in Kyhn’s school too and is considered Denmarks most famous woman painter belonging to the Skagen group to which also Peder Krøyer (1851-1909) belongs. 

Mary Steen (1856-1939) the pioneer Royal court photographer who after Denmarks princes Alexandra married Queen Vicoria’s son Edward VII and thus  later queen of England, was introduced to the British court and became well known for portraying British royalty. Right: Queen Victoria knitting in Windsor Castle in 1895.  

Above two wonderful Danish landscape painting by Marie Luplau. The portrait of her mother Line Luplau, (below) is owned by the Danish parliament because of her progressive ideas and life long efforts concerning the development and rights of woman. Long before such ideas were as accepted and implied in many other European countries.

Professor Arnold Krog (1865-1931) artist and director of the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain factory, where Sophie Meyer worked, was married to    Emma and Sophie Meijer's aunt (fathers sister). His famous RCP design, in use by British monarchs, below

Discovering Knud Kyhn (1880-1969), Vilhelms Kyhn's nephew, in the Royal Copenhagen porcelain factory was a nice surprise too closing the circle on this posting. I shall have to restrain myself not starting collecting Knud's wonderful porcelain animal sculptures of which I cannot withhold you some examples.

  And Knud Kyhn is my kind of watercolor painter too. 

In these last couple of postings I tried to picture the world of Emma Meyer (1859-1921), shown in before posting. It was the reason and beginning of this account of my journey into the Danish artistic world second half of the 19^th century. 

Most pictures are mouse-clickable to embiggen.

All pictures borrowed freely from the Internet for friendly, educational non commercial use only.
As was information from the essay by Barbara Sjöholm.

Kopenhagen around 1895 in colour

Kopenhagen around 1895

....and let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. (Hamlet Act I, Scene 2) 

Kopenhagen centre: Hochbrücke.

(Mouse-click for super large)

These photolithographic pictures (in the form of colored postcards) came into fashion around 1890. The combination of a large glass-plate negative, with great details, with a new color invention giving soft colored view of many great cities around the world. Visiting Copenhagen along my web-researching Emma Meyer and her world I scraped these together, a nice addition to feel the atmosphere in full color. Color photography had yet to be invented. As were automobiles and flying machines.

General city view and Harbourstreet

Tivoli park (opened 1843) and entrance and the (old) Royal Theatre build 1874.

The Exchange Hall, build 1858

Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844), Danish sculptor was  awarded his Museum build around 1838-46 (above). It is where his famous neo-classical three Graces live.

Copenhagen Helsingborg harbor and Christiansborg Castle ruins.

All pictures mouse-clickable to embiggen

Read here about the proces of photochrome*