Rare woodcuts by "Brücke" artists found

Die Brücke, Katalog Austellung Brücke (mit Pechstein, Kirchner, Schmidt-Rottluff etc.) Berlin, 1912. Estimate: 18,000 EUR / $ 23,400

HAMBURG.- It could turn out an incredible yield when the rare exhibition catalog with ten original woodcuts by Brücke-artists will be called up in the Hamburg Auction of Rare Books on 19/20 November, 2012. Estimated with € 18.000, it was originally bought for a bargain of € 5. Browsing a flea market he discovered the thin brochure in a size of 20 x 25 cm. The blue firm paper wrapper carries a pink rectangle with the inscription “Brücke“. Told that it was for just € 5, the book and art lover from the Odenwald could not say “no“. Following his gut feeling, he showed the brochure, which turned out to be an exhibition catalog, to the auction house Ketterer Kunst. After some research it was clear: The man from south-western Germany had made a hell of a bargain, not only had the catalog last been offered on the German auction market some 30 years ago, on top, he had bought an extremely rare edition with two exceptionally scarce woodcuts by Max Pechstein. The traveling exhibition for which the catalog had been released changed from Galerie Gurlitt in Berlin to Galerie Commeter in Hamburg. However, before the “Brücke“ exhibition reached its second stop, a dispute between members of the artist group had broken out, consequentially, Max Pechstein was expelled from the circle, because he had also shown works in the Berliner Secession. Therefore his works are contained only in this Berlin catalog. Afterwards they were removed and replaced by each a work from Erich Heckel and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. Other woodcuts in the booklet come amongst others from Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Otto Müller. 

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Die Brücke, Katalog Austellung Brücke (mit Pechstein, Kirchner, Schmidt-Rottluff etc.) Berlin, 1912. Estimate: 18,000 EUR / $ 23,400.