Live Auction 20651Impressionist and Modern Art Day and Works on Paper Sale
WALTER DEXEL (1890-1973)
Lot 469 PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF WALTER DEXEL

WALTER DEXEL (1890-1973)

Die Rückkehr des verlorenen Sohnes (Der Verweis des Vaters; Der Verweis des älteren Bruders; Die Mutter; Das Zwiegespräch mit dem älteren Bruder)

Closed4 March 2022

Price Realised

GBP 16,380

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WALTER DEXEL (1890-1973)
Die Rückkehr des verlorenen Sohnes (Der Verweis des Vaters; Der Verweis des älteren Bruders; Die Mutter; Das Zwiegespräch mit dem älteren Bruder)
with the Nachlass stamp (on the reverse of the mount)
tempera, spritztechnik, pen and ink, paper collage and photomontage on card
each box: 5 1⁄8 x 7 3⁄4 in. (13 x 19.8 cm.)
overall: 20 3⁄4 x 7 3⁄4 in. (52.7 x 19.8 cm.)
Executed in 1928

The artist's estate, and thence by descent to the present owner.

Specialist note

The reference to Gide on the work's reverse is likely in connection with the author's 1907 short story Le retour de l'enfant prodigue, based on the biblical tale. Interestingly, the short story was adapted for the stage and performed in Paris. Seeing that Dexel created stage sets for Gide (W. Dexel & W. Vitt, W. Dexel & W. Vitt, Fine Days at Dexel’s: The Visitors’ Book; Walter Dexel’s Centenary, Cologne, Galerie Stolz,1990), it is very plausible that this work was intended as a preparatory study for Gide's play.