Emil Nolde’S Fascination with the Fantastical
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Hatje Cantz Verlag Mommsenstraße 27 Tel. +49 (0)30 3464678-08 Press Contact: Hatje Cantz Verlag GmbH Managing Director: 10629 Berlin Fax +49 (0)30 3289042-62 [email protected] HRB 118521 Thomas Ganske Deutschland www.hatjecantz.de Reg.-Gericht Hamburg Frank-H. Häger UST-ID-Nr.: DE143580256 Dr. Cristina Steingräber Dr. Thomas P.J. Feinen BIZARRE VISUAL WORLDS FROM A CLASSIC ARTIST EMIL NOLDE’S FASCINATION WITH THE FANTASTICAL Luminous flower gardens, wild seascapes, or intense memories of journeys—all the facets of Emil Nolde’s work seem to have been explored. Yet, there’s one theme that has long been basically neglected: the Expressionist painter’s love of the grotesque. Emil Nolde – The Grotesques is the first publication to reveal Nolde’s relationship to the fantastical. Berlin, April 20, 2017 ― It’s surprising that even though the grotesque is a major thematic area of outstanding significance to Emil Nolde (1867 – 1956), there has never been a monograph about this subject. Emil Nolde – The Gotesque’s more than 130 illustrations of intensely colorful paintings, watercolors, and prints invite readers to discover these previously undervalued motifs from Nolde’s oeuvre. References to this obsession are found not only in his autobiography and many of the painter’s letters—even some of his early works are evidence of his particular interest in the fantastical and the grotesque. “In 1894 he began depicting Alpine peaks in the form of grotesque saws,” confirms Christian Ring, director of the Nolde-Stiftung in Seebüll. These were followed by the Bergriesen (mountain giants), which could have sprung from a book of fairy tales, or his Grotesques, a series of etchings. In the ensuing years he produced more watercolors and paintings that evade obvious interpretation or legibility. Between 1931 and 1935 he painted a series of large watercolors titled Fantasien (Fantasies) which paved the way for the so-called Ungemalten Bilder (unpainted pictures), most of which were done in secret during the period when the Nazis forbade him to practice his profession. In these works Nolde often invents fantastical and grotesque visual compositions, which served as the foundation for other paintings post 1945. Roman Zieglgänsberger, curator at the Museum Wiesbaden, points out that Nolde’s tendency toward the grotesque was not coincidental. “Around the turn of the century the grotesque could be found everywhere, especially in Symbolism and Art Nouveau. Scary faces met unpleasant grimaces; one was concealed inside the other and vice-versa.” The grotesque defines itself through its special relationship to boundaries: it trespasses, leaps over, and undermines them. It’s long been an acknowledged genre and has exercised lasting influence over developments in international art history since World War II. Emil Nolde – The Grotesques is being published in conjunction with the exhibition at the Museum Wiesbaden, on display from April 30 to July 9. The works will then travel to the Buchheim Museum der Phantasie in Bernried, near Starnberger Lake. EMIL NOLDE THE GROTESQUES Ed. Ulrich Luckhardt, Christian Ring, texts by Caroline Dieterich, Ulrich Luckhardt, Christian Ring, Daniel J. Schreiber, Roman Zieglgänsberger, graphic design by Harald Richter English 2017. 176 pp., hardcover ISBN 978-3-7757-4283-2 29,80 EUR ABOUT HATJE CANTZ Hatje Cantz is a groundbreaking international publishing company specializing in art, architecture, and photography. Since 1945 Hatje Cantz has been using its profound expertise and enthusiasm for craftsmanship to produce and publish books of the highest quality. We currently release around two hundred new titles annually. Especially in the digital age, Hatje Cantz regards itself an element linking museums, artists, galleries, collectors, and art lovers. Conveying knowledge - in terms of both content and visuals - as well as an enthusiasm for art is always at the heart of our engagement. In keeping with our ambition to make it possible to experience art beyond the medium of the book, Hatje Cantz has launched the EDITION GERD HATJE as we continue to expand our portfolio of strictly limited, signed editions featuring works on paper, photographic works of art, and art objects. www.hatjecantz.de www.editiongerdhatje.com PRESS CONTACT Sara Buschmann Jennifer Berndt Head of Press Department Junior PR-Manager [email protected] [email protected] Tel. +49 30 3464678-08 Tel. +49 30 3464678-23 .