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Lot 1096 Property from an Important New York Collection
George Grosz (1893-1959)
Der Weg allen Fleisches II
Closed13 November 2015
Price Realised
USD 155,000
More Information
Specialist note
Ralph Jentsch has confirmed the authenticity of this work.
In 1926, Grosz began working on a series of drawings and watercolors called Der Weg allen Fleisches (The Way of All Flesh), culminating in 1931 with a trio of paintings. Ralph Jentsch has described the series: “scenes of fat men lying naked on the massage table at the steam bath in Berlin’s Motzstrasse alternate with scenes of the rank and file of marching soldiers in the field–off to the slaughterhouse! Or Grosz lovingly depicts a butcher proudly standing under the front door of his shop.” The present work is part of this series, the initial pen and India ink drawing executed in 1930. Grosz brought the work with him to America, where he would later embellish it, adding in the watercolor and gouache heightening, transforming the former monotone drawing into a work of brilliant color.
In 1926, Grosz began working on a series of drawings and watercolors called Der Weg allen Fleisches (The Way of All Flesh), culminating in 1931 with a trio of paintings. Ralph Jentsch has described the series: “scenes of fat men lying naked on the massage table at the steam bath in Berlin’s Motzstrasse alternate with scenes of the rank and file of marching soldiers in the field–off to the slaughterhouse! Or Grosz lovingly depicts a butcher proudly standing under the front door of his shop.” The present work is part of this series, the initial pen and India ink drawing executed in 1930. Grosz brought the work with him to America, where he would later embellish it, adding in the watercolor and gouache heightening, transforming the former monotone drawing into a work of brilliant color.