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Spaightwood Galleries
Ernst Barlach (German, 1870-1938): Woodcuts for Der Kopf II
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In 1919 Barlach made 10 woodcuts to illustrate Der Kopf / The Head, a poem by Reinhold von Walther. The work, published by Paul Cassirer in Berlin in 1919, was issued in an edition of 200 with the woodcuts bound. There was also a suite of 20 portfolios containing the woodcuts printed on japon paper and signed on the lower right of each sheet. Each portfolio was signed on the justification page by the poet and the artist as well. Finally, also in 1919, Cassirer and Barlach produced a larger edition printed on zinc plates made from the woodcuts. Our impressions come from this final edition. The poem tells the story of how the beggars revolted against their poverty and the injustice of the rich and under the rule of a legless beggar (their "Head") established their own government. Alas, it quickly shows itself as unjust the one it replaced, thus anticipating Orwell's Animal Farm.
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Die Verstossenen The outcasts (Davis-Rifkind 96:6, Schulte 107). Original woodcut for Der Kopf (1919). 20 signed impressions on japon, 200 impressions on wove from the woodblocks, and a larger edition printed from zinc plates made under Barlach's supervision from his woodblocks from which our impression comes. Image size: 140x140mm. Price: $675.
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Russische Bettlerin / Russian Beggarwoman (Davis-Rifkind 96:7, Schulte 108). Original woodcut for Der Kopf (1919). 20 signed impressions on japon, 200 impressions on wove from the woodblocks, and a larger edition printed from zinc plates made under Barlach's supervision from his woodblocks from which our impression comes. Barlach's image may well have contributed to Gunther Grass's description of Oskar's Polish grandmother in The Tin Drum. Illustrated A Breadth of Vision: The Ritz Collecetion (Milwaukee Art Museum, 1992), p. 32. Image size: 102x79mm. Price: $675.
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Knieende Bettlerin / Kneeling beggar woman The Olde Beggarwoman (Davis-Rifkind 96:9, Schulte 110). Original woodcut for Der Kopf (1919). 20 signed impressions on japon, 200 impressions on wove from the woodblocks, and a larger edition printed from zinc plates made under Barlach's supervision from his woodblocks from which our impression comes. Image size: 101x78mm. Price: $675.
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Unrtergang / Ruin (Davis-Rifkind 96:10, Schulte 111). Original woodcut for Der Kopf (1919). 20 signed impressions on japon, 200 impressions on wove from the woodblocks, and a larger edition printed from zinc plates made under Barlach's supervision from his woodblocks from which our impression comes. The image recalls various 16th-century German woodcuts depicted the Agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemene when Peter, James, and John could not stay awake while jesus prayed that the cup of death might pass him by. Image size: 145x130mm. Price: $675.
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Spaightwood Galleries, Inc.
To purchase, call us at 1-800-809-3343 (508-529-2511 in Upton MA & vicinity) or send an email to sptwd@verizon.net. We accept AmericanExpress, DiscoverCard, MasterCard, and Visa.
For directions and visiting information, please call. We are, of course, always available over the web and by telephone (see above for contact information). Click the following for links to past shows and artists. For a visual tour of the gallery, please click here. For information about Andy Weiner and Sonja Hansard-Weiner, please click here. For a list of special offers currently available, see Specials.
Visiting hours: Saturday and Sunday noon to 6 pm and other times by arrangement. Please call to confirm your visit. Browsers and guests are welcome.
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