Frauenkopf. Head of a Woman, No 2. by Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, 1884-1976

Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, 1884-1976
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Frauenkopf. Head of a Woman, No 2.

Original woodcut in black ink. 1916. From the edition issued for the album: 'Genius', Munich 1919/20. Printed at the studio of Drugelin, Leipzig 1919. With the title line on the reverse, as issued.
Ref: Schapire - Schmidt-Rottluff Graphisches Werk no 189.

Extremely fine strong impression of this issue, showing the block texture. On pale cream hard wove paper. Excellent condition; the very slightest suggestion of time toning at the outer sheet edges. Full margins. Sheet: 10 x 13 7/8ins. Block: 6 7/8 x 9 3/8ins (173x240mm)

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Frauenkof No 2 is one of the most dramatic and striking portrait woodcuts from the period of the height of Schmidt-Rottluff's printmaking.

Schmidt-Rottluff was one of the founders of the Brücke expressionist group in Dresden in 1905. He was the youngest artist in the circle but also the one with the most powerful concept of form. All the Brücke artists were deeply influenced by their admiration for the imagery of primitive and tribal art, and it was this that led them to concentrate on woodcut for their prints. The boldness and simplicity of shape which woodcut suggested echoed their search for an emotional primitivism of form.

Although this impression of Frauenkopf is from the issued edition for the Genius album, the bold simple style of the cutting of the block allowed it to print extremely well even in a larger edition.