Twenty sketchbooks by Caspar David Friedrich, the most important representative of German Romanticism, are known, yet only six of them have survived in bound form over the past two centuries. Four reside in the National Museum in Oslo, another in the Kupferstichkabinett (the Museum of Prints and Drawings) in Dresden, and now, the only specimen in private ownership – the so-called Karlsruher Skizzenbuch (the 'Karlsruhe Sketchbook') – is being offered in Grisebach's winter auctions. Notably, this marks the first time that one of Friedrich's sketchbooks is being brought to auction.
The booklet comprises 20 sheets and 33 pages of pencil drawings, some of which were dated by the artist between 25 April 1804 and 1 June 1804. It stands as a wonderful testament to Friedrich's artistic process, for whom hikes through nature (in this case in the Dresden area) were essential for discovering motifs. These, he diligently recorded in sketches to later incorporate into his compositions in the studio. Drawings from the Karlsruher Skizzenbuch can be found in the paintings Hünengrab im Schnee ('Cairn in Snow', 1807), Abtei im Eichwald ('The Abbey in the Oakwood', 1809/10), Klosterfriedhof im Schnee ('Monastery Cemetery in the Snow', 1817/18, destroyed in the war) and Große Gehege bei Dresden ('The Great Enclosure near Dresden', 1832).
The preservation of the Karlsruher Skizzenbuch is owed to the descendants of the painter Georg Friedrich Kersting (1785–1847). Kersting, a good friend and frequent portraitist of Caspar David Friedrich, acquired the booklet either shortly after Friedrich's death or during his lifetime, and it has remained in his family ever since.
The Karlsruher Skizzenbuch will be up for auction on 30 November in the 'Selected Masterpieces' auction, which is part of Grisebach's winter auctions taking place in Berlin on 30 November and 1 December. The pre-auction estimate for the sketchbook is €1-1.5 million (about $1.05-1.58 million).
Lyonel Feininger similarly drew upon nature studies, which referred to as "nature notes," later developed into paintings. However, there is no known study for Wolken überm Meer I ('Clouds over the Sea I'), another highlight among the selected masterpieces at Grisebach. The painting was created in 1923, following a stay in Timmendorf, Germany, where he had travelled the previous year at the invitation of Walter Gropius. There, he was captivated by the cloud formations over the sea, which he brought to the canvas in a stylised modern form, revisiting the theme in another version later that same year.
"An idyll in which danger lurks in every corner:" this is how Max Beckmann described Baden-Baden in 1936, during his spa stay. Upon returning to Berlin, he captured this sentiment in the painting Springbrunnen in Baden-Baden ('Fountain in Baden-Baden'), portraying an empty park that was supposed to be populated by spa guests. Even the foaming spray of the fountain cannot completely break the deceptive silence guarded by an ominous statue. For Beckmann, these years marked a period of increasing exposure to the pressures of the Nazi regime, which ultimately compelled him to emigrate.
Emil Nolde is featured in the auction with four works, of which In Demut ('In Humility', 1946) and Mohn und blaue Lupinen ('Poppy and Blue Lupins', 1950) are particularly noteworthy. Nolde likely drew inspiration for the floral motif from the garden of his residence near Seebüll, a home he and his first wife Ada built in 1926, later adding a studio in 1937. In Humility was inspired by his watercolor work from the 1930s, which Nolde developed into a painting. For him, the year 1946 was marked by his concern for Ada, who passed away in November due to heart failure.
Among the contemporary works on offer is a lead painting by Günther Förg, notable for its minimalist expression. The vibrant impact and breadth of the extremely restrained color palette stem from the unconventional use of lead as a canvas, which repeatedly shines through in places and thus becomes part of the composition.
In 1964, Per Kirkeby received his doctorate in arctic geology from the University of Copenhagen. Throughout his studies, he repeatedly participated in expeditions to Greenland, which was a source of inspiration for his art. This influence is discernible in the current large-format work: a landscape where matter, layers, and shapes align and intertwine to form a unified whole.
The 'Selected Works' auction begins on November 30 at 6 p.m. Before that, you can bid on 'Art of the 19th Century' from 3 p.m. The catalogues 'Modern Art' (11 a.m.) and 'Contemporary Art' (6 p.m.) will follow on December 1.
The auctions will take place at Grisebach, located at Fasanenstraße 27 in Berlin. will be accessible at the venue from November 22 to 29.
