ALEXANDER KOESTER | Enten in Flachem Schilfwasser

Sale: Christie's, London, June 26, 1987, lot 37, illustrated (as Enten im reflexlicht am seeufer)
Private Collection (and sold, Christie's, New York, May 23, 1991, lot 131, illustrated)
Acquired at the above sale 

Ruth Stein and Hans Koester, Alexander Koester 1864-1932: Leben und Werk, Recklinghausen, 1988, n.p., no. 756, illustrated, pl. 65

Original unlined condition. The surface of this work presents beautifully with fresh, vibrant colors. There are two vertical stretcher bar marks at center and at center right. Under UV: there are a few scattered small areas and dots of strengthening in the background at upper left and brushy retouches at the extreme edges to address prior frame abrasion.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Like the Impressionists, Alexander Koester was intrigued by the fleeting play of light on rippling water, leaves in the wind and the rhythmical qualities of ducks moving in gracious formation, giving his paintings a distinctly lyrical quality; it is likely no coincidence that Koester was an accomplished violinist and collector of the instrument.  From their first exhibition in Berlin in 1899, Alexander Koester’s paintings of ducks have attracted significant acclaim. For Koester, it was not just ducks as wildlife that were of interest, but also the spontaneous effects of sunlight on the bird’s white, beige, and grey feathers and on the reflections in the rippling water. 

In the present work, Koester takes an elevated viewpoint that pushes the horizon out of the frame, directing the viewer’s focus to the group of ducks and the rose gold sunlight striking the pond’s surface. Koester has carefully studied these ducks in their natural habitat, staying true to his academic training and lending the fowl an endearing character and presence of their own.