May 14
Iconic Lion of the New York City Public Library (Photo: Daydream Tourist)
While I was in town, I stopped by the New York Public Library to do some research for the Friedrich Wahle Project. While I was able to cross out one lead, most of the books I needed were in storage or locked up in the prints department. I did at least get to wander around and enjoy the beautiful library interior which made the trip over to Bryant Park well worth it.
While in New York City this past weekend visiting friends, I happened across a lamp post advertisement featuring one of my favorite portraits ever, Femme au collier jaune (1946) by Pablo Picasso. (This image should be familiar to anyone who reads my blog!) Turns out this privately owned work is in New York as part of the exhibit, “Picasso and Françoise Gilot: Paris–Vallauris 1943–1953” at the Gagosian Gallery from May 2 – June 30, 2012. Having not previously heard about the exhibit, I stumbled upon the poster around the corner from the gallery; clearly this was fate!
Embossed logo on the cover of the Munich Secessionist catalog (Photo: Princeton University Library)
Having decided that Wahle was part of the Munich Secessionist art movement based on his circle of friends, I sought out the catalogs for the Secessionist exhibits to see if he ever did show his art with this group. While I didn’t find many specifics about this paintings, I did find some key biographical information.
Friedrich Wahle, Gespräch Auf Dem Boulevard (Talk On The Boulevard) – sold July 2007
So as part of the Friedrich Wahle Project, I am assembling a catalog of his drawings and paintings. Using mainly online auction records from the last three decades, I’ve managed to put together a pretty interesting list. So here is approximately what I know so far:
Take a good look at the icon below (without reading its name).
Holy Virgin of the Three Hands (Museum of Russian Icons)
Daydream Tourist 