Acquired by the late owner circa 1980s

Please contact the Impressionist and Modern Art Department (Phoebe.Liu@laitexier.com) for the condition report for this lot.
"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."

Landschaft, painted by Max Pechstein circa 1920, belongs to a series of boldly coloured landscapes that the artist painted in the small fishing village of Nidden on the Curonian Spit, a thin piece of land in between the Baltic Sea and former Eastern Prussia (today Lithuania). Pechstein visited Nidden on three occasions, in 1912, 1919, and finally in 1920. It was a peaceful haven that attracted artists from Berlin who sought a welcome break from the cold of the capital. Its unspoiled and natural landscape became Pechstein’s refuge and as he created works without inhibition, his painterly style was honed and developed into maturity. Pechstein's characteristically dynamic brushstrokes present several solitary fir trees against an expressionist skyline. The winding narrow pathway leads the viewer to the village, the red roofs providing a bold contrast to the dark green trees and undulating meadow in the foreground. Encapsulating the landscape of the Curonian Spit where hilly dunes and fir trees feature along the coastline, the differing shades of green subtly suggest the ever-changing light. The heavy sky presents the moment where the weather is about to change; the grey clouds loom over the bright blue sky. The sky is a dramatic interplay of blues and greys, imbued with a glow achieved by the skilful streaks of yellow paint.

With its strong angular composition and evocative planes of colour, Landschaft reflects the artist’s enduring vision of a life of pastoral idyll. The present work evokes a profound feeling of harmony and simplicity and Landschaft is a celebratory painting that revels in the open-air landscape of Nidden that Pechstein cherished so dearly.



The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Dr. Aya Soika.