Ohne Titel (Norwegische Landschaft aus der Erinnerung)

Kurt Schwitters painted this Norwegian landscape in 1940, when he was at one of the World War II internment camps in England. A landscape painted from memory, full in colour with strong hints of impasto, this work speaks of escapism, a utopian and somewhat expressionistic vision of the great outdoors. This bears a striking contrast to the Dada collages for which he is best known however Schwitters enjoyed exploring both styles throughout his lifetime and subtle commonalities are to be found between both, evidently in the recognizable colour scheme and, where this work is concerned, in the tiny newsprint impressions evident upon close inspection within the varnish. This piece belonged formerly to Edith “Wantee” Thomas whom Schwitters would meet the year after it was painted, in December 1941, and who would remain his partner for the rest of his life.