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SYMBOLISM Symbolism was a hugely influential movement in both European literature and the visual arts from the mid 1880's to the early part of the 20th century. It rejected direct literal representation in favour of evocation and suggestion using ambiguous yet powerful symbols. Symbolism combined religious mysticism with an interest in the perverse and the erotic. It formed part of a broad anti-materialist and anti-rationalist trend towards the end of the 19th century and was against the naturalism of the Impressionists. Among the artists associated with the movement were Odilon Redon, Gustave Moreau, Ferdinand Khnopff, Puvis de Chavannes, Ferdinand Hodler, Gustav Klimt, early works by Edgar Degas and Sasha Schneider. The collection on the following pages has been gathered together over the years by a true connoisseur of the genre of symbolism. There are examples by Guy Pierre Fauconnet, Ludwig von Hofmann, Henri Martin, Bertram Hartman, Carlos Schwabe, Richard Müller, Ferdinand Khnopff, Heinrich Lefler, Frank Stassen, Karl Felkel and Sasha Schneider among others. There are sculptures by Geyger, Molin and Bitterlich and a fabulous group of 17 watercolours by the symbolist/surrealist Walter Schnackenberg. The symbolist single owner collection comprises around 90 works in all and there are watercolours, drawings, oils, prints and sculptures on offer. The symbolist movement was just as influential on European literature, theatre and opera as on painting and drawing. Wagner's operas such as Der Ring des Nibelungen are associated with symbolism, along with German romanticism. A series of works on paper in the collection by Franz Stassen and oils by Emil Pirchan and Moritz von Schwind depict scenes from Siegfried, one of the Ring operas. Wagner's inspiration permeated Austrian and German art at this time and indeed there is a symbiosis of German romanticism and symbolism in many of the German/Austrian works. PROPERTY FROM A COLLECTION OF EUROPEAN SYMBOLISM

Henri Martin (French, 1860-1943)

Girl with a crown of thorns

Details

Henri Martin (French, 1860-1943)
Girl with a crown of thorns
signed 'Henri Martin' (lower right) and further signed in pencil (lower left)
lithograph in colours
20 3/8 x 13½ in. (51.8 x 34.3 cm.)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis. This lot is subject to storage and collection charges. **For Furniture and Decorative Objects, storage charges commence 7 days from sale. Please contact department for further details.** From time to time, Christie's may offer a lot which it owns in whole or in part. This is such a lot.

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