Lot Essay
The work will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné currently being prepared by Mr. Jentsch.
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Das ist die Orgesch, die unser Stinnes liebt!
Details
George Grosz (1893-1959)
Das ist die Orgesch, die unser Stinnes liebt!
signed 'Grosz' (lower right)
pen and pencil on paper
16¼ x 20½in. (41.3 x 52cm.)
Drawn in 1919-1920
Das ist die Orgesch, die unser Stinnes liebt!
signed 'Grosz' (lower right)
pen and pencil on paper
16¼ x 20½in. (41.3 x 52cm.)
Drawn in 1919-1920
Literature
Malik Verlag (ed.), Das Gesicht der herrschenden Klasse, Berlin, 1921 (illustrated p. 18).
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.
Sale room notice
Please note the explanation of the German title:
Das ist die Orgesch, die unser Stinnes liebt: The work was executed by George Grosz at the beginning of a time which became known as the 'Weimar Republic', the name stemming from the meeting in Weimar, where the assembly that adopted its consitition met in August 1919. The Weimar Republic followed the First World War and should last until 1933. Not only being the leader of the Weimar Republic but also the leader of the Social Democratic movement, it was Friedrich Ebert's main attempt to unite Germany after it's defeat in the First World War.
The Republic however being based on moderate socialist ideas had its opponents. Hugo Stinnes, an industrialist who controlled coal mines, steel mills, hotels, electrical factories, newspapers, shipping lines and banks became known as the 'business kaiser'. There had been a brief moment in the autumn of 1918 when his possible position as the chanceller was discussed; a position which would have allowed him to act as a dictator. Having the reputation of a war profiteer and being scrupulous and interested in his own profit, Stinnes was in disaccordance with the treaty of Versailles and favouring movements like the 'Einwohnerwehr', which would illegally find weapons and hide them. Escherich was a leader of the Bavarian 'Einwohnerwehr' and his organisation became known as Orgesch. In the present drawing, George Grosz carricatures the Orgesch and makes reference to Stinnes and his favouring of those movements.
Das ist die Orgesch, die unser Stinnes liebt: The work was executed by George Grosz at the beginning of a time which became known as the 'Weimar Republic', the name stemming from the meeting in Weimar, where the assembly that adopted its consitition met in August 1919. The Weimar Republic followed the First World War and should last until 1933. Not only being the leader of the Weimar Republic but also the leader of the Social Democratic movement, it was Friedrich Ebert's main attempt to unite Germany after it's defeat in the First World War.
The Republic however being based on moderate socialist ideas had its opponents. Hugo Stinnes, an industrialist who controlled coal mines, steel mills, hotels, electrical factories, newspapers, shipping lines and banks became known as the 'business kaiser'. There had been a brief moment in the autumn of 1918 when his possible position as the chanceller was discussed; a position which would have allowed him to act as a dictator. Having the reputation of a war profiteer and being scrupulous and interested in his own profit, Stinnes was in disaccordance with the treaty of Versailles and favouring movements like the 'Einwohnerwehr', which would illegally find weapons and hide them. Escherich was a leader of the Bavarian 'Einwohnerwehr' and his organisation became known as Orgesch. In the present drawing, George Grosz carricatures the Orgesch and makes reference to Stinnes and his favouring of those movements.