Lot Essay
Financed by his art dealer Paul Cassirer, Kokoschka began two years of intense travel in 1924. During this time, he visited most of Europe including Italy, France, Spain, Holland and England. This enabled him to paint dramatic views of many of the major cities of the world. With the changes of setting and light came marked changes in palette and paint application resulting in landscapes characterized by heightened colour and a more vigorous rendering.
During the months of July and August, Kokoschka spent his time painting the view of Kloveniersburgwal in Amsterdam from the balcony of his top floor apartment in the Hotel Doelen. Kokoschka preferred painting the same view from high vantage points in order to broaden his visual field (fig.1) and indeed produced so many works on this trip that by the end of his journey Cassirer was able to stage a highly successful exhibition of his travel paintings in the summer of 1925.
During the months of July and August, Kokoschka spent his time painting the view of Kloveniersburgwal in Amsterdam from the balcony of his top floor apartment in the Hotel Doelen. Kokoschka preferred painting the same view from high vantage points in order to broaden his visual field (fig.1) and indeed produced so many works on this trip that by the end of his journey Cassirer was able to stage a highly successful exhibition of his travel paintings in the summer of 1925.