Zwei Katzen. 1933.
Woodcut.
Signed and inscribed "Eigendruck". With the estate stamp of the Kunstmuseum Basel (Lugt 1570 b, very faded) and the handwritten numbering “H Da / Bm 3 II” on the reverse. One of only three known copies from this state, and one of only four total known copies of this woodcut. On thin creme laid paper. 37 x 50 cm (14.5 x 19.6 in). Sheet: 42,5 x 56,8 cm (16,7 x 22,4 in).
[CH].

• Extremely rare woodcut from the late Davos period: one of only four known copies.
• This is the first time a copy is offered on the international auction market (source: artprice.com).
• Another copy from this state was purchased for the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, as early as the 1950s.
• In 1919, E. L. Kirchner and Erna Schilling got a cat named Boby, henceforth, the artist frequently made works featuring cats.
• After Boby's death in the spring of 1931, they got a cat named Schacky, who is frequently mentioned in the artist's letters and diary entries.

PROVENANCE: The artist's estate (Davos 1938, Kunstmuseum Basel 1946).
Kirchner community of heirs, Biberach (1954).
Walter Köhler Collection, Munich (since 1954, heir to Walter Kirchner, brother of the artist (died 1954).
Ever since in Southern German family ownership.

LITERATURE: Günther Gercken, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Kritisches Werkverzeichnis der Druckgraphik, vol. 6 (1925-1937), Bern 2021, p. 262, cat. no. 1705 II (of II, illustrated on p. 263).
Annemarie and Wolf-Dieter Dube, E. L. Kirchner. Das graphische Werk, Munich 1967, cat. rais. no. H 664 II (of II).

"“It is so beautiful here, just lonely and quiet. I have spent a lot of time on my own this year, only Schacky keeps me company while I try to make some etchings.”
E. L. Kirchner in a letter to Carl Hagemann, November 17, 1931.

“Last night, Schacky had a lady visitor with lots of noise and romping.”
E. L. Kirchner in a letter to Erna Schilling, November 22, 1931.

Fine overall impression. The sheet is firmly mounted in its corners. Minimal mount staining. Some creasing in the margins, with small crimped spots. A somewhat more pronounced vertical crimped spot in the center and in the left half of the sheet, running vertically and slightly diagonally. Tiny tear in the edge in the upper center of the sheet.
For information concerning the condition, please view the high resolution image / backside image.