Artist: Rudolf Bauer (German, 1881 - 1953).
Title: "Non-Objective Solitary Confinement Prison Drawing [No.14]".
Medium: Pencil drawing on paper.
Date: Composed 1938.
Dimensions: Overall size: 8 1/8 x 5 5/16 in. (206 x 135 mm).
Lot Note(s): Signed with the initial in pencil (as was his custom), lower left. Drawn on grey/green wove paper. Good condition. Provenance: Estate of the Artist. Comment(s): Another example of a Bauer prison drawing sold for $6,875 at Doyle New York, November 5, 2013, lot #86. Our drawing is a highly important example of Bauer’s rare “prison drawings.” Among them, the “solitary confinement prison drawings” are of the utmost rarity. As Wikipedia states, “during his time in prison [1938], he created dozens of non-objective drawings on scavenged scraps of paper.” Bauer was in prison for several months. Initially he was held in solitary confinement. He created the present drawing, our example, during the solitary confinement period. He then was moved to the general prison population and allowed to perform office clerking functions. During this time he created yet more drawings, generally more refined and on office stationery, many with typewriter type on the verso. These drawings, while still rare, are obtainable, whereas the “solitary confinement” drawings are virtually unobtainable. The complete text of the Wikipedia article dealing with this period: “In 1938, upon his return from an exhibition of his work in Paris, Bauer was arrested by the Nazis for his ‘degenerate’ art and for speculating on the black market — meaning selling his work to [Solomon] Guggenheim. The previous year Bauer’s work had been included in the infamous Degenerate Art show in Munich, organized by the Nazis to show all the deviant, abstract art. In spite of this Bauer had refused to move from his home country. Upon his arrest Bauer was held in a Gestapo prison for several months, as [Hilla] Rebay and Guggenheim worked to free him. After several false starts, he was finally released unconditionally in August 1938. During his time in prison, he created dozens of non-objective drawings on scavenged scraps of paper. He spent the next months getting his paperwork in order and made the difficult decision to leave his homeland, emigrating to the United States in July 1939, just months before the beginning of World War II.” Image copyright © Rudolf Bauer Estate and Archives. [29853-1-800] |
