August Macke

Private Collection (acquired by 1957)
Aenne Abels, Cologne (acquired by 1966)
Private Collection, San Francisco
Private Collection (sale: Hauswedell & Nolte, Hamburg, 9-10th June 1986, lot 765)
Private Collection, Germany (acquired from the above in the mid-1990s; sale: Christie's, London, 23rd June 2009, lot 18)
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

Berlin, Galerie von der Heyde, August Macke zur 20. Wiederkehr seines Todestages, 1934, no. 5
Hamburg, Kunstverein, August Macke, 1935
Hanover, Kestner-Gesellschaft, August Macke, 1935, no. 9
Aachen, Suermondt-Museum, August Macke, Gedächtnisausstellung des Museumsvereins, 1948, no. 18
Dortmund, Museum am Ostwall, August Macke, Gedächtnisausstellung, 1949, no. 13
Duisburg, Städtisches Kunstmuseum, August Macke, 1949, no. 13

Gustav Vriesen, August Macke, Stuttgart, 1953, no. 178, illustrated p. 317
Ursula Heiderich, August Macke, Werkverzeichnis, Stuttgart, 2008, no. 237, illustrated p. 371

The board is stable and there do not appear to be any signs of retouching visible under UV light. There are a few pin holes in places. There are some fine lines of craquelure to the most thickly applied white pigment. This work is in good overall condition and would benefit from a light clean.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"The most important thing for me is the direct observation of nature in its light-filled existence […] What I most cherish is the observation of the movement of colours. Only in this have I found the laws of those simultaneous and complementary colour contrasts that nourish the actual rhythm of my vision. In this I find the actual essence, an essence which is not born out of an a priori system or theory" (August Macke quoted in G. Vriesen, op. cit., p. 120, translated from German).