Clouds in the Evening - Abendwolken

Hermann Max Pechstein (Zwickau 1881 - Berlin 1955)

1922. Oil/canvas. 79 x 100 cm. Lower left signed and dated HMPechstein 1922. Retouchings. Relined. Pechstein was looking for a new vacation spot after Nidden had been placed under League of Nations mandate in 1920. Carrying only a backpack, he set out on foot toward the west and, in 1921, found the town of Leba in Pomerania, which would become the site of his summer stays for the next 24 years. As early as 1923, he married Marta Möller, a native of Leba, there. The early years in Leba were particularly productive for Pechstein artistically, and his works were well received by critics. He painted the harbor of Leba shown here with the distinctive fog bell for maritime navigation in the background in many variations, including seasonal ones. In addition to the course of the Leba River, the glowing clouds and their reflections in the river, together with the horizon line, create a strong sense of dynamism in the center of the painting. - Literature: Catalogue raisoné: Soika II, 1922/22. We are grateful to Aya Soika for further valuable informations. - Provenance: 1946, as shown in a photograph in the artist's possession; Leonard Hutton Galleries, New York, 1975; Galerie Franke, München 1975; Auction house Hauswedell, Hamburg, 206th auction, 7.6.1975, lot 1431; at last private collection Hamburg - German painter and graphic artist, one of the main exponents of expressionism. P. studied at the Dresden art school and the academy, at last 1903-06 as master student of O. Gussman. As early as 1906 he joined the artist's group 'Brücke'. The following year he travelled Italy and France with a scholarship. He settled in Berlin where he became member of the Secession and president of the Neue Secesssion, which led to his exclusion from the 'Brücke' in 1912. In 1918 he was founding member of the 'Novembergruppe' in Berlin. The Nazis chased him from his job as professor at the Berlin academy which he had had since 1923. In 1937 he was also excluded from the academy and many of his artworks featured the exhibition 'Entartete Kunst'. He spent the Nazi years mainly in Pomerania. As early 1945 he became professor again in Berlin and was awarded many prizes during the following years. His works were exhibite posthumously at the Documenta I in 1955. Mus.: Berlin (Brücke-Museum, Nat.-Gal.), Dresden (Gem.-Gal.), Cologne (Mus. Ludwig, Wallraf-Richartz-Mus.), Zwickau (Pechstein-Mus.), Zurich (Kunsthaus), Ludwigshafen (Wilhelm-Hack-Mus.) a. others. Lit.: Thieme-Becker, Vollmer a. others.