Fritz Lang (German, 1877-1961).
Roter Ara (Scarlet Macaw)
c1920s. Colour
linocut, monogrammed in block lower left, annotated “handdruck” and titled in
German, signed and numbered “35” and “22” in pencil in lower margin, 45.7 x
26cm. Foxing and slight paper loss to margins.
Item #CL168-86
Fritz Lang was
a German painter, noted for his woodcuts, linocuts, lithographs and book illustrations between 1892 and 1894 he was an apprentice
decorative painter, after which he attended the Königlich-Württembergische
Kunstschule in Stuttgart, and the Karlsruher Akademie.
In 1899 he returned to Stuttgart, finding
freelance work to generate an income. During this period he produced numerous
woodcuts, some of which were purchased by the British Museum, the Königliche Kupferstichkabinett of
Stuttgart, and the Hofbibliothek in Vienna.
Between 1915 and 1918 during World War I he was conscripted and served with the armed
forces. The post-war conditions in Germany were not conducive to artistic
expression, and Lang's output was minimal during this period. By 1924 some of
his work had been bought by the Victoria and Albert Museum and
the Whitworth Art Gallery of Manchester.
A trip to the former colony of German East Africa in
1928 inspired Lang, and he produced a large number of woodcuts and paintings
with an African theme.
During World War II the Allied bombing of Stuttgart destroyed Lang's studio. As a result his works became rare and valuable. Some 330 of his woodblocks survived the war. His animal and bird studies were outstanding, and clearly inspired other German and Austrian artists in their technique and composition. The influence of Japanese woodcut masters on Lang's work is evident.
Price (AUD): $1650
