Oil on cardboard. Upper right signed and dated. 108 x 55 cm.
John Knittel Collection (1891-1970), Switzerland (ever since family-owned)
Hans Unger is one of the central, albeit hitherto less recognized, representatives of Symbolism and Art Nouveau in Germany at the turn of the century. Originally trained as a decorative painter at the Royal Court Theater in Dresden, he began to study at the Dresden Art Academy in Friedrich Preller's landscape class, after which he became acquainted with the brighter palette of Impressionism on his travels through Italy and through the exchange with the Goppeln School. Unger's artistic activity is particularly fascinating for the variety of techniques and materials he employs between Symbolism, Impressionism and Art Nouveau, producing poster art, as well as illustrations for magazines such as "PAN" and "Jugend", as well as stage curtains and mosaics. In 1897, the 'Gemäldegalerie' in Dresden bought his work "Die Muse", which earned him greater fame as a painter. In the same year, Unger went to Paris to study at the Académie Julian for six months. In the 1920s, Unger traveled extensively and also visited North African countries. During these years, the influence of oriental art and the glistening light in his compositions and his palette became palpable. Here, Unger presents an intense self-portrait with a penetrating gaze against a bright blue background. [KT]
Lot Details
Oil on cardboard. Upper right signed and dated. 108 x 55 cm.
John Knittel Collection (1891-1970), Switzerland (ever since family-owned)
Hans Unger is one of the central, albeit hitherto less recognized, representatives of Symbolism and Art Nouveau in Germany at the turn of the century. Originally trained as a decorative painter at the Royal Court Theater in Dresden, he began to study at the Dresden Art Academy in Friedrich Preller's landscape class, after which he became acquainted with the brighter palette of Impressionism on his travels through Italy and through the exchange with the Goppeln School. Unger's artistic activity is particularly fascinating for the variety of techniques and materials he employs between Symbolism, Impressionism and Art Nouveau, producing poster art, as well as illustrations for magazines such as "PAN" and "Jugend", as well as stage curtains and mosaics. In 1897, the 'Gemäldegalerie' in Dresden bought his work "Die Muse", which earned him greater fame as a painter. In the same year, Unger went to Paris to study at the Académie Julian for six months. In the 1920s, Unger traveled extensively and also visited North African countries. During these years, the influence of oriental art and the glistening light in his compositions and his palette became palpable. Here, Unger presents an intense self-portrait with a penetrating gaze against a bright blue background. [KT]
