Angler und Schiffe (Anglers and Ships)

Lyonel Feininger (1871-1956), Angler und Schiffe (Anglers and Ships), woodcut, 1916, Prasse W135, second state (of 2), edition 30 (1941), one of only several proofs before the published edition. Signed and dated in pencil. Signed with the artist’s emblem in pencil, bottom left sheet corner.

Image size 3 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches (83 x 114 mm); sheet size 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches (140 x 216 mm).

A fine, black rare proof impression, on oatmeal-tan carbon-copy paper, with full margins (3/4 to 2 1/4 inches). The paper lightly sun-bleached within the original mat opening; a small loss in the top right sheet corner well away from the image (see illustration); otherwise in excellent condition.

Only one proof is known of a first state impression, on carbon-copy paper; the composition was not changed for the second state but the block was cleaned of “excess wood” (which had created a messy dotted effect) according to Prasse.

Estate stamped and numbered W 701 in pencil, in the lower right sheet corner. Published edition: No.8 of the porfolio, Ten Woodcuts by Lyonel Feininger, 1941. Used as a letterhead.

Collections: Cincinnati CiPL; Cleveland CMA (II, 1941 edition); New York MOMA (II, 1941 edition); Philadelphia PAFA (II, 1941 edition).