Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Philosoph" ["Philosopher"]

Plate 3 of the cycle Vom Tode Zweiter Teil (Opus XIII)

1910

aquatint etching with engraving on Imperial Japan paper

proof impression of the third state

49,5 x 33,5 cm (plate); 60 x 44,2 cm (sheet)

in pencil at lower right signed "M.Klinger" and dated "21.3.10"

in pencil at lower left inscribed 3. Z. 1. Dr. (3rd state, 1st impression)

The Daulton Collection

Singer (catalogue raisonne) 232 

Provenance:

ex coll. Georg Hirzel (1868-1924), Leipzig (with the blind stamp "Sammlung Georg Hirzel"), the noted publisher, arts patron, and collector, who acquired choice impressions directly from the artist

Seized from Georg Hirzel’s heirs, and later given to the Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig

Restituted to the Hirzel family after 1990

Villa Grisebach, Berlin, 4 June 1993, Lot 175

C. G. Boerner, Dusseldorf

Hauswedell & Nolte, Hamburg, Sale 449, December 3, 2013, at which The Daulton Collection acquired

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Tote Mutter" ["Dead Mother"]

Plate 10 from Vom Tode Zweiter Teil [On Death Part Two]

1893

etching on tissue thin Japan paper mounted on thick Japan paper

proof impression of the fourth state, the completed print before letters

46,0 x 35,0 cm. (plate); 62,3 x 47,2 cm. (sheet)

in pencil at lower right signed "M.Klinger" and dated and inscribed "10. Mai 93. Berlin"

The Daulton Collection

Singer (catalogue raisonne) 239 IV

Provenance:

C. G. Boerner, Dusseldorf, 1984

Christies, South Kensington, September 14, 2010, at which The Daulton Collection acquired

Describing this print as "incomparable in its conception and composition," Hans Singer proclaimed that it "is certainly the most beautiful Klinger ever created."  Impressions of the fourth state are rare; Singer recorded only 8 impressions.

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Tote Mutter" ["Dead Mother"]

Plate 10 from Vom Tode Zweiter Teil [On Death Part Two]

1898

etching and aquatint, framed

impression of the fifth state, the completed print with letters

45,3 x 34,6 cm. (plate)

in pencil at lower right dedicated, signed "Max Klinger," and dated "L. [Leipzig] 9.7.1900"

The Daulton Collection

Singer (catalogue raisonne) 239 V

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Pest" ["[“Pestilence” or “Plague”]"]

Plate 5 (of 12) of the cycle Vom Tode Zweiter Teil (Opus XIII)

1903

etching and drypoint on heavy Japan laid paper

proof impression of the second state

plate 36,1 × 31,4 cm (14 ¼ × 12 ⅜ in.); sheet 61,8 × 46,8 cm (24 ⅜ × 18 ⅜ in.)

in pencil in lower right margin signed and dated "M. Klinger. 31. oct. 1903."

in pencil in lower left margin inscribed 2. Z. 3. Dr. (2nd state, 3rd impression)

in pencil along the lower left margin line in pencil also signed by the printer Otto Felsing

in corner of the lower left margin, the purple collector's stamp of Heinrich Stinnes (Lugt 1376a)

The Daulton Collection

Singer catalogue raisonné 234 II (of VI).

According to Singer, the third of at least 7 proofs of the unfinished 2nd state of the edition published in 1904. 

Provenance:

ex coll. Dr. Heinrich Stinnes (1867-1932), Cologne, the most accomplished German print collector of his day, who acquired many proof impressions directly from Max Klinger.

ex coll. Walter Bauer (1901-1968), Fulda (thence by descent until purchased by The Daulton Collection).  Bauer was a German industrialist, known for his association with art historian Carl Georg Heise (1890-1979), a champion of German classical modernism who was director of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.

Condition: Very fine, harmonious overall appearance. Good, strong print. The sheet edges without tears or losses. The paper in the plate with minor time staining. The lower left corner lightly bumped with a diagonal crease (3 cm). Along the left margin, in places slight pressure lines and irregularities in the paper. Above the edge of the plate on the right, one hairline printer ink mark (2,5 cm); in the margins, very isolated minuscule stains. On the reverse, at the center of left edge, mounted with white paper strip onto the support cardboard; the same mounting at top and bottom of this same edge detached. There in the corners, also pinpoint traces of paper and adhesive residue from an older mounting.

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Zeit und Ruhm" ["Time and Glory" or "Time and Fame"]

Plate 11 from Vom Tode Zweiter Teil [On Death Part Two]

1891

proof impression of the third state, before the completed print with letters

etching and engraving

45,5 x 27,7 cm (plate)

in pencil at lower left signed, dated, and inscribed "Roma"["Rome"]

The Daulton Collection

Singer (catalogue raisonné) 240 III

provenance: private collection, France

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Und doch!" ["And yet!"]

1885

etching and aquatint

37,5 x 27,7 cm (plate), 54,2 x 41,7 cm (sheet)

trial proof of the second state of eight (with the plate number, IV, upper right, but before all inscriptions)

in pencil inscribed, monogrammed, and dated lower left: "1. Z. 2. Dr. / M.K. / 24.7.85."

The Daulton Collection

Singer (catalogue raisonne) 250.

Second trial proof of the first state (1. Z. 2. Dr.) of the rejected plate for Sheet 8 of the portfolio Vom Tode, Teil II, Opus XIII.  Here, in the discarded version, the man stands on tiptoe and the landscape background also shows clear differences from the composition developed later (Singer 237), which was also larger in size. 

A rich, velvety impression of this extraordinarily rare print.  Singer records only one other example.

Slightly foxed, mainly in the outer white margin, marginal traces of handling, otherwise excellent condition.

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Und doch!" ["And yet!"]

circa 1891

etching, engraving, and aquatint

41,3 x 32,1 cm (plate)

completed trial proof of the third state of five (before the engraved inscriptions of the published first edition, state four), dated 1893

in pencil signed, inscribed, and dated lower right: "M. Klinger.  Berlin  9. Mai 93."

The Daulton Collection

Singer (catalogue raisonne) 237 III.

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Integer Vitae" ["Entire Life"]

Plate 1 from the print cycle Vom Tode Zweiter Teil [On Death Part Two]

1885/1900

proof impression of the second state, before the completed print with the inscription below the border

etching on Japon Impérial paper

40,6 x 31,7 cm (plate); 61 x 44,2 cm (sheet)

in pencil at lower right signed with Klinger's dedication to the conductor

Fritz Steinbach, dated April 22, 1907: 

"Fritz Steinbach / zur erinnerung an unvergeßliche Brahms stunden /
dankbarst / Max Klinger / L. 22.04.07." 

["Fritz Steinbach / In memory of unforgettable hours with Brahms /

With deepest gratitude / Max Klinger / Leipzig April 22, 1907"]

The Daulton Collection

Singer (catalogue raisonné) 230 II

Singer states that there were at least 6 impressions of the second state.

Fritz Steinbach (Grünsfeld 1855 – 1916 Munich) was a German conductor and composer who was particularly associated with the works of Johannes Brahms.

Purchased by The Daulton Collection in Milan, Italy, 2018.

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Integer Vitae" ["Entire Life"]

Plate 1 from the print cycle Vom Tode Zweiter Teil [On Death Part Two]

1885/1900

proof impression of the second state, before the completed print with the inscription below the border

etching on paper

48 x 36 cm (sheet)

in pencil at lower right signed: "M. Klinger"

The Daulton Collection

Singer (catalogue raisonné) 230 II

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Krieg" ["War"]

1909

etching on Japan

52,2 x 34 cm 

in pencil signed and dated lower right: "M.Klinger 11.10.09"

See Singer (catalogue raisonne) 235.

A rare trial proof of the first state for Sheet 6 of the portfolio Vom Tode, Teil II, Opus XIII [On Death, Part 2, Opus XIII].  

Full Margin.  Slight crease marks in the upper left white margin, otherwise in excellent condition.

Exhibition History of this impression:

"Alfred Kubin: Confessions of a Tortured Soul," Leopold Museum, Vienna, April 16 - July 24, 2022

Publication History of this impression:

Hans-Peter Wipplinger, ed., Alfred Kubin: Confessions of a Tortured Soul (Vienna: Leopold Museum, 2022), pgs. 103 (ill.), 321.

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Genie (Künstler)" ["Genius (Artist)"]

1900

etching and aquatint 

45 x 34,5 cm (image)

in pencil signed, dated, and inscribed lower left: "M.Klinger. 17.8.1900 Paris.  2.Z.5.Dr." [State 2, Impression 5]"

Singer (catalogue raisonne) 233 II (of VII).

A rare trial proof of the second state for Sheet 4 of the portfolio Vom Tode, Teil II, Opus XIII [On Death, Part 2, Opus XIII].  

Provenance:

Estate (Nachlass) of Max Klinger

Collection (Sammlung) of psychologist Fritz Tögel (1888-1967), thence descent in his family until acquired by The Daulton Collection in 2022

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Genie (Künstler)" ["Genius (Artist)"]

1900

etching and aquatint on Imperial Japan

44,6 x 34,5 cm (image)

in pencil signed, inscribed, and dated lower right: "M. Klinger  Paris 1. Sept. 1900"

in pencil inscribed lower left: "3.Z. 4.Dr." [State 3, Impression 4]"

Singer (catalogue raisonne) 233 III (of VII).

Condition: merely insignificant signs of age; small annotations in pencil at the bottom; otherwise in immaculately beautiful condition

Provenance:

Werner Eberhard Müller, with his red collection stamp (Lugt 5075) lower left

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Genie (Künstler)" ["Genius (Artist)"]

1903

etching and aquatint on Japan

45 x 34,5 cm (image); 63,8 x 49,5 cm (sheet)

in pencil signed, dated, and inscribed lower left: "M.Klinger. 31.Oct.1903. 4.Z.5.Dr. [State 4, Impression 5]"

See Singer (catalogue raisonne) 233 IV (of VII).

A rare trial proof of the fourth state for Sheet 4 of the portfolio Vom Tode, Teil II, Opus XIII [On Death, Part 2, Opus XIII].  

A brilliant, precise, and strong impression before Felsing's printed signature and other revisions. With a wide margin around the platemark.

condition: slight signs of handling on the edges, otherwise in very good condition.

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"Herrscher" ["Ruler"]

1910

etching on Imperial Japan

49,9 x 33,8 cm

in pencil signed, inscribed, and dated lower right: "M. Klinger  9. Juli 1910"

in pencil inscribed lower left: "3.Z. 4.Dr." [State 3, Impression 4]"

Singer (catalogue raisonne) 231 (in 1909 as uncompleted).

Condition: minimally browned towards the edges and somewhat foxed; small pencil annotations below; faint signs of age; otherwise in original and untouched beautiful condition.

Provenance:

Werner Eberhard Müller, Leipzig, with his red collection stamp (Lugt 5075) lower left

Discussion:

For more than 25 years, Klinger worked again and again on the sheets of this series, Vom Tode, Teil II.  Eight works alone were rejected. In 1898, six leaves were published, and in 1910 the completed Opus XIII with twelve leaves was completed. "Herrscher" was one of the later-published leaves.

Max Klinger (1857-1920) 

"An die Schönheit" ["To the Beauty"]

etching on rolled China

41,3 x 32,1 cm

in pencil signed and dated lower left: "M. Klinger. 8. .3. 90"

in pencil inscribed lower right: "2.Z.5.Dr. [State 2, Impression 5]"

See Singer (catalogue raisonne) 241 II (of IV).

A rare trial proof of the second state for Sheet 12, the final sheet, of the portfolio Vom Tode, Teil II, Opus XIII [On Death, Part 2, Opus XIII].  

Provenance: Werner Eberhard Müller; red collector's stamp lower left (Lugt 5075).

Perfect proof in an excellent, finely detailed impression on the full sheet.

Condition: minimally dusty and with slight signs of wear towards the edges; small pencil annotations below; the mounting hinges slightly showing through at the top; otherwise in very good condition.