Lot Essay
"Nolde ... attached such importance to the human face that it became a central theme in his art. However, he was primarily concerned with the universal, typical features to be discerned in the individual face, features expressing the fundamental passions and emotions. It was his interest in the 'original' or primordial element that made him prefer the mask to the portrait" (W. Haftmann, Emil Nolde, New York, p.98). As in many of his works, in Zwei junge Frauen im Profil Nolde shows the two figures at half-length to permit the fullest possible emphasis on facial expression and the relationship between the figures.
All the artists of Die Brücke believed that colour could convey inner states and moods, and Zwei junge Frauen im Profil is a striking example of this. In 1942 Nolde wrote "Yellow..can show some happiness, and it can show pain. There is fiery red, blood red and rose red. There is silver blue, sky blue and thunder blue. Every colour holds within it a soul, which makes me happy or repels me, and which acts as a stimulus. To a person who has no art in him, colours are colours, tones tones...and that is all. All their consequences for the human spirit, which range from between heaven to hell, just go unnoticed." (Nolde - Forbidden Pictures, Exh. cat., Marlborough Fine Art Ltd, 1970, p.9).
In the present work the overlaying of the faces and bodies of the women creates an extremely vivid composition. Through this it is possible to see how Nolde developed the medium of watercolour, making the most of its evocative qualities and creating unique images with informality and spontaneity. Manfred Reuther declares "in this discipline he attained the sureness of a sleepwalker in formal design and an almost unapproachable mastery in the usage of colour; there is hardly anything comparable." (see Emil Nolde Aquarelle und Graphiken, Leipzig, 1995, p. 14).
Professor Martin Urban of the Nolde-Stiftung, Seebüll, has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this work.
All the artists of Die Brücke believed that colour could convey inner states and moods, and Zwei junge Frauen im Profil is a striking example of this. In 1942 Nolde wrote "Yellow..can show some happiness, and it can show pain. There is fiery red, blood red and rose red. There is silver blue, sky blue and thunder blue. Every colour holds within it a soul, which makes me happy or repels me, and which acts as a stimulus. To a person who has no art in him, colours are colours, tones tones...and that is all. All their consequences for the human spirit, which range from between heaven to hell, just go unnoticed." (Nolde - Forbidden Pictures, Exh. cat., Marlborough Fine Art Ltd, 1970, p.9).
In the present work the overlaying of the faces and bodies of the women creates an extremely vivid composition. Through this it is possible to see how Nolde developed the medium of watercolour, making the most of its evocative qualities and creating unique images with informality and spontaneity. Manfred Reuther declares "in this discipline he attained the sureness of a sleepwalker in formal design and an almost unapproachable mastery in the usage of colour; there is hardly anything comparable." (see Emil Nolde Aquarelle und Graphiken, Leipzig, 1995, p. 14).
Professor Martin Urban of the Nolde-Stiftung, Seebüll, has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this work.