“Gruß aus Sachsen” (Greetings from Saxony)

Details

Inscribed and dated on the reverse by an unknown hand. Literature: Grosz, George, An Autobiography, transl. by Nora Hodges, New York 1983, p. 89. Exhibitions: George Grosz, Serge Sabarsky Gallery, New York 1980, cat. no.20; George Grosz: Gli anni di Berlino, Palazzo Reale, Milan et. al. 1985–1995, cat. no.55 and 77 and 31; Zeichnungen und Aquarelle des deutschen Expressionismus, Städtische Galerie Bietigheim-Bissingen et. al., 1990/91, with black and white ill.; Shepherd W & K Galleries, New York 2023. Provenance: estate of George Grosz, Princeton, with faint stamp on the reverse (not in Lugt) and the hand-written number “3-19-6”;Martin Grosz, Princeton;collection of/estate of Serge Sabarsky, New York, acquired from the aforementioned in 1979;collection of/Foundation Vally Sabarsky, New York.

Description

This drawing in Indian ink served as a preparatory sketch for the eponymous print in the portfolio “Ecce homo” from 1920. The entire series was created between 1916 and 1923. The publication was declared “grossly indecent” in its entirety in 1924. It was censored and its distribution was prohibited.