Woodcut on Japan paper, 27.3 x 15.1 cm (block), 35 x 24.8 cm (sheet). Plate 10 of the 3rd portfolio "Neue europäische Graphik: Deutsche Künstler", published by Staatliches Bauhaus Weimar, 1921. No. 1 of 10 impressions of the special edition on Japan paper. Signed in pencil and with the Bauhaus dry stamp (Lugt 2558 b) lower left. Reference: Wingler 1965 III/10; Peters III/10; Söhn HDO 103-10.
Provenance: With the collector's stamp of Heinrich Stinnes (Lugt 1376a/4436: "Even before the First World War, his collection was one of the best and richest in Germany. He mainly sought out first proofs and had a total of around 200,000 prints.") and his handwritten annotations:
Left: Staatl. Bauhaus/22. XII. 21
Centre: "Neue Europäische Graphik"/Mappe III. B(latt) 10./Johannes Molzahn 1921/Holzschnitt Handdruck 1/10 Japan
Right: 14 Blätter (?)/4500 (Note: Mark)
The precise notation on the lower margin, typical of Stinnes, provides us today with valuable information not only about his collecting activities but above all about the collected prints themselves. The date of purchase and the price paid tell us, for example, that Stinnes had already acquired the portfolio as a subscriber before it was delivered in 1922. The price paid by Stinnes also shows that he had subscribed to all 5 announced portfolios (of which no. 2 was never published). The subscription price according to the Bauhaus announcement was 22500 Marks for the special edition of all 5 portfolios, or 5000 Marks for the purchase of a single portfolio. In 1921 this was 25 US dollars or the equivalent of 750 rolls of American toilet paper. Complete Bauhaus portfolios are among the greatest rarities today and - unlike in 1921 - are valued in gold.
