T. Lux Feininger

Fan Red and Black & Courtesan Fille Soldat Duchesse Poète Contadina

Fächer Rot und Schwarz & Courtesan Fille Soldat Duchesse Poète Contadina (La Chartreuse de Parme)

Repro: CF-SC

1951-1954, in New York
Gouache, wax crayons and pencil
74,3 x 59,05 cm (29 1/4 x 23 1/4 in); Fan: 36,2 x 28,4 cm (14 1/4 x 19 in), Courtesan: 15,9 x 36,2 cm (6 1/4 x 14 1/4 in)
Inscr. lower left: Friday February 2 1951, center: Courtesan Fille Soldat Duchesse Poète Contadina se mettent à une joyeuse danse
The geometrical drawing (fan red and black), which symbolises his lectureship, was framed by the artist as a diptych, jointly with the figurative drawing (Courtesan, fille, soldat, duchesse, poète, contadina, se mettent à une joyeuse danse) to commemorate an important day in his life:
TLF: "The second of February 1951 was a day of an extraordinary breakthrough, of an illumination I think of as an epiphany. … Kurt Roesch… told me that the college was considering re-appointing me for another year… The joy of this day is expressed in another drawing of the "Chartreuse"** made and signed on that unforgettable day: “Courtesan, fille, soldat, duchesse, poète, contadine, se mettent à une joyeuse danse.” I found amongst my things a small unused box of conté crayons. … I now broke the crayons in, coloring my drawing with them… [305]

**[Stendhal, La Chartreuse de Parme, 1839 – Balzac recognises the importance of the novel and writes an enthusiastic Essay in his journal "Revue parisienne", 1840]
Themes: Geometricals, Cartoons