Engandiner haus mit schornstein

The painting is related to a series of theatre paintings executed by Kirchner in Frauenkirch (Davos) in 1920. In the fall of 1919, Traugott Michel, wrote a drama entitled "The Tailor Schnueffeli and his first ingenious deed." When the rehearsals began, Michel asked Kirchner to develop the stage setting for his drama. Kirchner accepted the commission with great excitement and started working on the project in March. He created three different backdrops for the stage: a forest, a prison cell, and a farmer's living-room.

The present work relates not only to Kirchner's stage designs, but also depicts the artist's own house on Längmatte Strasse which he moved into October 1918. After spending the summer on the Stafelalp, Kirchner was drawn to the town of Frauenkirch by its rugged landscape and blooming foliage. Kirchner depicted his home in numerous woodcuts and oil paintings during the late 1910s and early 1920s.