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Lot Essay
The present lot is one of the earliest dated works by Wiegers that shows the influence of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner on his work. It is very likely that De Kaartspelers (The Card Players) was made during his first visit to Davos. One of his sketchbooks (now in the collection of the Groninger Museum) shows a drawing that certainly has been Wiegers starting point for the composition of the present lot. (see fig. 1).
Illness brought Wiegers to Davos in 1920-21, where he became acquainted with Kirchner, one of the protagonists of German Expressionism. Kirchner's art, his theories and lifestyle made a lasting impression on Wiegers, inspiring him in technique, colour and subject matter. It has been suggested that the figure represented at the top left is Kirchner. (see: H. Steenbruggen a.o., Jan Wiegers 1893-1959: de ceremoniemeester heeft het spel laten beginnen, Groningen 2001, p. 76.) This painting belongs to a sequence of works closely related to Kirchner. During the summer of 1921 Wiegers and Kirchner met on an almost daily base to work together, exchange ideas or simply to have a drink and play a game.
The artist's association De Ploeg was founded in 1918, without a formal or artistic agenda. At an early stage the group was inspired by Jan Wiegers. After returning from Switzerland to Groningen Wiegers introduced the newly acquired Expressionism to his friends Jan Altink (1885-1971), Hendrik Nicolaas Werkman (1882-1945) and Johan Dijkstra (1896-1978).
Illness brought Wiegers to Davos in 1920-21, where he became acquainted with Kirchner, one of the protagonists of German Expressionism. Kirchner's art, his theories and lifestyle made a lasting impression on Wiegers, inspiring him in technique, colour and subject matter. It has been suggested that the figure represented at the top left is Kirchner. (see: H. Steenbruggen a.o., Jan Wiegers 1893-1959: de ceremoniemeester heeft het spel laten beginnen, Groningen 2001, p. 76.) This painting belongs to a sequence of works closely related to Kirchner. During the summer of 1921 Wiegers and Kirchner met on an almost daily base to work together, exchange ideas or simply to have a drink and play a game.
The artist's association De Ploeg was founded in 1918, without a formal or artistic agenda. At an early stage the group was inspired by Jan Wiegers. After returning from Switzerland to Groningen Wiegers introduced the newly acquired Expressionism to his friends Jan Altink (1885-1971), Hendrik Nicolaas Werkman (1882-1945) and Johan Dijkstra (1896-1978).