help to ID a painting - east german, post-war

eloisem · May 7th, 2010, 01:04 PM

I need help in identifying the artist or school of this painting.

link to image: http://twitpic.com/1lrwdr

Here is all the information I have received:

It was reportedly found in the basement of an arts school in post-war east germany. It is possibly 1933-38, post expressionist or modernist.

It was purchased at online auction at sotheby’s between 1999 – 2001 as “surrealist framed”. Nothing comes up on the archives. The signature on the piece is AL 48. The A & L are joined together to make one letter.

I am trying to find all the information I can about this piece, but am coming up short and I found this forum through google so I am hoping someone can help.

Any insight or input would be much appreciated!

John · May 7th, 2010, 08:39 PM

Am I missing something? Why did Sothebys think it was Surrealist?

Also, doesn't the "48" suggest that it was painted in 1948?

eloisem · May 10th, 2010, 01:50 PM

yes, one would think the 48 in signature would mean it was done in 48! but the person who provided the info is the one who dated it "possibly 1933-38". The 48 appears to have been altered too - as if someone tried to make the 8 look like a 0. and I cannot understand why sotheby's would label it as surrealist! i am now wondering if the figures are trappist monks, and if it possibly isnt german at all but south american or swiss. this has been really difficult, no one i speak with seems to have any ideas at all.

eloisem · May 10th, 2010, 02:37 PM

i posted a reply to this earlier but it still hasnt shown up... is it normal to take a long time for responses to appear?

John · May 11th, 2010, 01:15 AM

Yes, it does take that long sometimes. It's really only necessary as an antispam measure -- I updated your profile so that your posts should go straight through now.

Re the painting: I can see that the style might be called "Magic Realist" (see Colville, Tooker, etc.), as there's something mysterious about the whole scene. That's is a little different from true Surrealism, though.

May 7th, 2010, 01:04 PM	#1
eloisem Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3	help to ID a painting - east german, post-war I need help in identifying the artist or school of this painting. link to image: http://twitpic.com/1lrwdr Here is all the information I have received: It was reportedly found in the basement of an arts school in post-war east germany. It is possibly 1933-38, post expressionist or modernist. It was purchased at online auction at sotheby’s between 1999 – 2001 as “surrealist framed”. Nothing comes up on the archives. The signature on the piece is AL 48. The A & L are joined together to make one letter. I am trying to find all the information I can about this piece, but am coming up short and I found this forum through google so I am hoping someone can help. Any insight or input would be much appreciated!

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May 7th, 2010, 08:39 PM	#2
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,401	Am I missing something? Why did Sothebys think it was Surrealist? Also, doesn't the "48" suggest that it was painted in 1948?

May 10th, 2010, 01:50 PM	#3
eloisem Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3	yes, one would think the 48 in signature would mean it was done in 48! but the person who provided the info is the one who dated it "possibly 1933-38". The 48 appears to have been altered too - as if someone tried to make the 8 look like a 0. and I cannot understand why sotheby's would label it as surrealist! i am now wondering if the figures are trappist monks, and if it possibly isnt german at all but south american or swiss. this has been really difficult, no one i speak with seems to have any ideas at all.

May 10th, 2010, 02:37 PM	#4
eloisem Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3	i posted a reply to this earlier but it still hasnt shown up... is it normal to take a long time for responses to appear?

May 11th, 2010, 01:15 AM	#5
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,401	Yes, it does take that long sometimes. It's really only necessary as an antispam measure -- I updated your profile so that your posts should go straight through now. Re the painting: I can see that the style might be called "Magic Realist" (see Colville, Tooker, etc.), as there's something mysterious about the whole scene. That's is a little different from true Surrealism, though.