Erich Heckel (1883-1970), In der Muschelstube II (In the Oyster Bar), also known as Gent (Ghent), lithograph, 1916, signed in pencil lower left [also signed in the plate lower left and titled Gent lower right]. From the publication Der Bildermann [The pictureman], Vol.I, No.4, 1916  Edition: 137:  12 on Japan for the deluxe edition of Der Bildermann 1916; 75 on cream wove, and 50 on wove as published by Paul Cassirer Berlin, 1920. Reference: Dube 229 I/B (of II), from the edition of 75. In good condition, with slight soft folds in margins, with full margins, 11 x 8, the sheet 13 1/4 x 12 inches.

A fine impression, printed in black on cream/ivory wove paper.

Heckel was classified as unfit for service during World War I, but volunteered to work in an ambulance unit stationed in Roeselaar and Ostend, each quite near Ghent (title of this lithograph).  The unit was staffed mostly by artists, who were allowed time to work on their art.

Erich Heckel (1883-1970), Antwerp, drypoint, 1914, signed and dated in pencil lower right margin. Reference: Dube 123. In excellent condition, the full sheet on a cream/ivory wove paper, 12 1/2 x 7 3/4, the sheet 18 1/4 x 13 1/4 inches, archival matting.

A fine fresh impression, printed in black ink on a cream/ivory paper with substantial plate tone and strong burr from the drypoint work.

Erich Heckel was born in Saxony in 1883. He studied architecture at the Technical College in Dresden where he met Kirchner and was a founding member of Die Brücke in 1905. Heckel moved to Berlin in 1911 with other members of the group, and was a founding member of the Berlin Sezession. Heckel’s early intaglio prints were etchings, but after about 1909 they are almost entirely drypoints.

The area depicted here appears to be Antwerp’s ’Groenplaats’ (or Green Square), dominated by Our Lady’s Cathedral in the background.

Erich Heckel (1883-1970), Young Man (Ein Junger), woodcut, 1917, signed in pencil and dated lower right margin. Reference: Dube 300, second state (of 2). On heavy Japan wove paper, in good condition with full margins (some unobtrusive creases generally confined to margins), 14 1/8 x 11 1/4, the sheet 20 1/4 x 16 7/8 inches, archival window matting.

A fine strong impression printed in black ink.

Dube dates this to 1915; Heckel has written the date 17 on this impression.

Heckel was categorized as unfit for active service during World War I, but he did volunteer for ambulance duty. While stationed in Ostend he was able to make a number of paintings, woodcuts, and drawings of colleagues or their wounded patients, some landscapes and seascapes, but never battle scenes. This moving portrait is probably of a colleague.

In 1937 Heckel’s work was labeled as degenerate, and 729 of his works were expelled from German museums; in January 1944 his Berlin studio, containing all his blocks and plates, was destroyed.