Sur la Grève

Sur la Grève is a red lithograph realized by the German artist Ludwig von Hofmann . It was published in the Gazette des Beaux Arts in 1910 (cfr.n. 1910.12 of the catalog Sanchez Seydoux). On the lower left, outside the image, there is the following printed writing “ Gazette des Beaux-Arts ”. In the center, below the image, “ Sur la grève. / lithographie originale de M.L. von Hofmann ” is written in the same way.

The conditions of the artwork are very good, except for the visible fold along the upper margin of the artwork and another, lighter, along the lower margin due probably to the pression of a frame that used to be mounted on this artwork.

Ludwig von Hofmann was a German painter, famous for his paintings and drawings, between the Impressionist and Secession style, and for some decorative cycles. He manifested a talent in the arts and soon left for Berlin, Paris, and Vienna to finish his studies. Thanks to his education, his painting can be defined fully European, oscillating between Impressionism, classicism and strong suggestions of the Viennese Secession and Art Deco that finds in female and male nudes its highest and most sensual expression.

This beautiful lithograph represents four female figures at the beach. In the distance, the water of a lake, mountains, and boats. The women have plastic poses and classical attire. The atmosphere is serene and outside of time. The style anticipates the trends of the return to order of 1920s art.

This is an interesting, fascinating, and important artwork as testimony of a fundamental transition in the taste and style of 1900 European art.