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Premium Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin
97
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German Post-War Janssen, Horst
Dance of Death.
See original version (German)
97
-
German Post-War Janssen, Horst
Dance of Death.
See original version (German)
Estimate 6 000 € - 8 000 €
Voluntary lot
Description
German Post-War
Janssen, Horst
Dance of Death. Folder containing 11 original etchings with aquatint, loose within a mat. Stuttgart, Atelier Volker Sammet (published by Luigi Toninelli, Agno (Switzerland) and Cayman Graphic, George Town (Cayman Islands, British West Indies), 1974. Large folio. Sheet size up to 72.6 x 56.5 cm. Loose in original cardboard slipcase with title on the lid (slipcase exterior showing slight surface scuffs and faint traces of colour in places, corners slightly bumped in places)
One of 40 copies of the rarely complete series, printed on various types of paper, some of which are coloured. – Gäßler 26/1–26/11. – All signed, dated and numbered, and almost all with plate inscriptions. - Between 1972 and 1984, Janssen created numerous etching series on the theme of the Dance of Death. In these cycles, his exploration of his own mortality – a theme that continually defines his work – reaches its climax. Janssen’s fascination with the close proximity of death and life, of appearance and decay, is expressed here with the utmost artistic virtuosity. His personal involvement – at times as a protagonist in the events – is evident in the self-portraits that introduce or accompany almost all the cycles. In this series of prints, Janssen depicts the motif of ‘Death and the Maiden’ in the form of a ballad-like narrative, which begins with an invitation to dance and culminates in erotic ecstasy. - A few very isolated tiny or faint (finger) smudges; one sheet very slightly browned and with a few pale white spots; one sheet minimally browned at the very edges. - Throughout, magnificent, sharp-edged and exceptionally nuanced prints with clearly defined plate edges and margins, some with a hand-made edge; overall, a fine copy of the complete series.
Eleven etchings on different, partly coloured papers. Each signed, dated and numbered, and mostly indicated on the plate. Each loose in a mat. In its original cardboard box. - A few very isolated tiny or faint (finger) stains; one print very lightly browned with a few faint white stains; one print minimally browned at the outermost edges; the box shows light surface abrasions and faint traces of colour in places on the outside, with corners partly lightly bumped; the interior is clean. All in all, very good. Throughout, superb, burr-like impressions, extremely rich in nuances, with clear platemark and margin; some with deckle edge. - Complete series with corresponding portfolio. - One of 40 copies. - Printed by Atelier Volker Sammet, Stuttgart, edited by Luigi Toninelli, Agno (Switzerland) and Cayman Graphics, George Town (Cayman Islands, British West Indies) 1974. - Between 1972 and 1984, Janssen created numerous series of etchings on the theme of the Dance of Death. In these, the confrontation with his own transience – a theme that constantly dominates his work – reaches its climax. Janssen’s fascination with the close proximity of death and life, of appearance and decay, is expressed in a highly virtuosic artistic manner. His personal involvement – he himself a protagonist in most of the scenes – is evident in his self-portraits, which introduce or accompany almost all the series. In these prints, Janssen depicts the motif of death with a girl in a ballad-like narrative that begins with an invitation to dance and culminates in erotic ecstasy.
See original version (German)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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