Carl Kunst

Carl Kunst (I)

(1884 - 1912)

German grafic artist (Plakatkünstler)
Poster and Printmaker
Bookcover and Postcard designer 

A rare print by the hand of an even more enigmatic artist. He died very young (aged 27) but he made some very remarkable works of Art. Most are known as posters (Plakat) and most show wintery scenes. His mass reproduced posters are popular to this day. Originals in auctions make big prices. All matching dates I've found are 1905-1911. Spanning only some 6 years. So young and such talents. What if ....


Half a century later (1955) Shiro Kasamatsu had a similar thought. His print (Bird and Tree in 4 Seasons) is high on my wannahave list. Carl's print I stumbled upon and came in the post today.



To my knowledge Carl Kunst's works have nowhere been brought together. So let me have a go. High time after a 100 years. If there are more, please let me know.

(1905) (1910)

(1912)

(1912)

(1906)

Munich in winter, 1905
**** ATTENTION **** 

This posting is updated with new finds and examples on Nov. 29th 2011

Martha Wenzel

Martha Wenzel

(23-6-1859 Lippehne - 1943 Merxhausen)

German printmaker, graphic artist, (and painter).

"Spaziergang": a stroll.

Martha Wenzel studied in München (under Ernst Neumann, grafics- and posterartist) and Münich (under Ernst Staufer-Bern, portrait artist and also teacher of Käthe Kollwitz), where she worked and also later in Kassel. She was best known for her "Farbenholzschnitt" or color woodblock printing. She is mentioned in most German Artist indexes from 1900-1930.

Strangely I know only of one print by her hand. And I am not alone in my amazement as you can read: http://adventuresintheprinttrade.blogspot.com/2010/01/last-rays-of-sun.html

Having two granddaughters about the same age it made a very appropriate gift on our recent weddingday.

This print was made as an attachment or folio ("Originalbeilage") for the subscribers of the "Zeitschrift für bildende Kunst" in 1905. For 50 years, until about 1915 Germans (and the worlds) leading monthly art magazine.

Artist were invited to create grafic prints on a thematical basis. These exclusively for the magazine made prints have always been highly valued by collectors. I learned from the very nice dealer who sold me my copy (at a very friendly price) of the two girls that no artist-signed copies of this print are in any international collection.

The ones that show up (same paper, same borders) are almost certainly falsly signed.

Artist like Emil Nolde, Käthe Kollwitz and Schmidt-Rotluff published prints for the magazine and today sometimes fetch very high prices, upto €1000.

A painting by Martha, a copy of "the Architect" by Rembrand which is owned by the Kassel Museum (Ger.) were she lived changed hands for €400 at an auction in 2009. Surely something to show of with, I wonder who bought it.

Vladislav Röhling Part I: Praque, the 4 seasons

Vladislav Röhling

(1878 - 1949)

Tjech Printmaker, Painter, Etcher and Ex-libris artist.

Not speaking Tjech or even understanding the language at first I didnot know what my "Rainy Square in Prague with St. Nicolas Church print" was. Other than beautifull. Until I studied a Tjech auction cataloque and did some easy translating

My print was called Sv Mikulás (zima). Zima for winter. So I learned of existing Spring and Summer and Fall. The 4 seasons in Praque. Around 1940.

Here they are with more or less matching pictures from today Prague. The 1000 year city.

Winter: sv. Mikulás (zima) Old Town square with St. Nicholas church

Spring: Hradcany s letné (jaro): the castle on the hill dominating Praque as seen from the Old Town

Summer: Pohled s nábrezi (leto): View on Moldau embankments as seen from the Old Town

Fall: Sala Terrana Valstynského (podzim) Waldsteingardens with Sala terrana

Pretty accurate was Vladislav. In a Part 2 I'll show you some more examples of his art and more views on Praque.

last finds and NOID (5)

?

This woodblock-print went up for sale many many times on Ebay. It has been cut off and showed some wrinckling. I have tried pursuading the seller many times to send it to me on my "terms" (€ wise). But without luck. At last she gave in and its mine now. A piece of thinnish paper with some ink.

I've given it a proper mat and new frame. And I am quite happy.

last finds and NOID (4)

???

Nice print, no maker. Recognizing this signature would do the artist honour. Maybe not to everyone's taste but very  nice woodcut print of a geranium in clay pot.

I read something like: Z..........maijer 35 or ......ending Burgmaijer ?


I love printhunting, haggling and dealing (to a very modest degree and always decently). I donot care if the maker is Vincent van Gogh or a complete nono. As long as the composition is appealing (aesthetic ?) and has enough "quality" to please. Me. There is nothing more to it really. And I love figuring out what and who is (or was) behind the signature. Their lives, careers etc..

Who has a clue or knows ?

last finds and NOID (3): H.J. ?

H.J. ?

Hopefully my Blog will one day atract some visitors who might know 1 or 2 things. 

My latest plan is to introduce a new type of postings: "last finds and NOID" on the Blog. Since I am both the owner and editor I think this is a great and wonderful idea. With a label attached it might even work better as the Blog grows.

These two unsigned (probably cut off when framed) but monogrammed prints, which I particularly like, have a maker that is untill now completely unknown to me. That is of no consequence neither for me enjoying them nor honest appriciation for this artist. But I believe a name to the monogram would do the artist honour. And most importantly, further investigations could be started. They are most probably of German origin (that's were they came from) but not a certainty. Maybe Dutch ?

I think these two prints are full of warmth and charm and have great class  Their measures aprox. 30 x 36 cm. (12" x 14,5"). I guess they originate from the 1920-'30's.

If you have any clue or idea about the maker, please send me an email or  comment.

Else von Schmiedeberg - Blume

Else von Schmiedeberg - Blume

(1876 Worbis, Sachsen - after 1927 )

German portrait and landscape painter, woodblock- and linoleumprinter

Tulips in a vase, copy of a linoleumprint from the "Zeitschrift für bildende Kunst".

Not much is to be found about Else's life and works on the www. An occasional auction entry, not much more.

I learned she was trained in Leipzig Artschool and visited Artschools in Münich and Paris. She wrote a "Handbuch und Lehrkursus für die Kunst des Malens".

It was proposed to consist of 3 Volumes as she points out in the introduction of Vol I. It was published in Berlin in 1927 and dealing with the basics of technic and composition. Volumes II and III not to be found. Not even consulting Bookfinder.com. Somewhere I've read a year of her (supposed) death: 1927. That would explain maybe the reason the project wasn't completed. I have'nt been able to confirm this date.

Else states in the introduction that her Handbook was to be used as an active working book, and therefore it was published in 6 separate volumes in a dustcover with broadmargined pages "allowing to add notes etc.." allong the course.

Here are some illustrations by Else from Vol I.

(drawing on black paper, it could be a view on the Alster, Hamburg)

some proof of her skills and travelling Europe.

Besides the Red Tulips I am the proud owner of a really beautifull: "Originallinoleumschnitt Handdruck" by Else Schmiedeberg-Blume

How I became owner, after disaster in the German Postal Services, is another story but 3 monts after conclusion of the the deal with the elderly German couple that wanted to dispose of it (?) it is finally hanging rematted and reframed on my wall. It's one of the highlights of my collection (thank you Clive).

signed: "Originallinoleumschnitt Handdruck"
picture size 40 x 54 cm (!)

Amazingly only 4 colors (2 oranges, a blue and a red) were used to create this wonderfull impressionistic flowerprint. Suggesting the browns and greens and creating light and dark and depth, executed so clever. The very lean layers of paint, after some 90 years, still strong and vibrant.

Examples of two more linoleumprints by Else (courtesy of Clive, Art and the Aestethe,see also:

http://www.clivechristy.com/2009/04/few-of-my-favourite-things.html)

Any further information and pictures of Else's works would be very welcomed.