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Lot Essay
The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Dr Annegret Hoberg of the Kubin-Archiv, Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich.
Alfred Kubin took his inspiration for this work from his inner world, which he translated as pieces of art. Kubin is acknowledged as an artist haunted by fantastic and nightmarish visions, which indeed foresaw unimaginable and unprecedented scenes of hell and the end of humanity on Earth, which would soon become real on Europe’s battlefields.
With his sensitive antennae, the artist was capable of putting these visions into iconic images that still speak to and disturb the viewer today. Kubin produced thousands of small pencil and ink drawings, many as illustrations for fantastic and symbolist poetry. However, in his major works, he was unrivalled. He created unforgettable images, bold in subject and composition, yet subtle and refined in technique.
The present drawing of a mutilated female body, nailed to a wall with daggers, is heavily reminiscent of religious imagery and the martyrs of Judeo-Christian tradition, which Kubin combined with his personal mysticism. From an artistic point of view, this drawing is an exquisite example of Kubin’s draughtsmanship. In Aug um Aug, Kubin has applied fine layers of ink and watercolour to achieve a delicate texture, a technique the artist so uniquely mastered. Few of his works are as delicately executed and as impressive in their motif as the present drawing.
Alfred Kubin took his inspiration for this work from his inner world, which he translated as pieces of art. Kubin is acknowledged as an artist haunted by fantastic and nightmarish visions, which indeed foresaw unimaginable and unprecedented scenes of hell and the end of humanity on Earth, which would soon become real on Europe’s battlefields.
With his sensitive antennae, the artist was capable of putting these visions into iconic images that still speak to and disturb the viewer today. Kubin produced thousands of small pencil and ink drawings, many as illustrations for fantastic and symbolist poetry. However, in his major works, he was unrivalled. He created unforgettable images, bold in subject and composition, yet subtle and refined in technique.
The present drawing of a mutilated female body, nailed to a wall with daggers, is heavily reminiscent of religious imagery and the martyrs of Judeo-Christian tradition, which Kubin combined with his personal mysticism. From an artistic point of view, this drawing is an exquisite example of Kubin’s draughtsmanship. In Aug um Aug, Kubin has applied fine layers of ink and watercolour to achieve a delicate texture, a technique the artist so uniquely mastered. Few of his works are as delicately executed and as impressive in their motif as the present drawing.