Harris Schrank Fine Prints

Emil Nolde (1867-1956), Doppelbildness (Double Portrait), woodcut, 1937, signed in pencil and numbered 97. From the edition of 150 impressions, published by Schweizerische Graphische Gesellschaft. Reference: Schiefler and Mosel 193II (second state of 2). In excellent condition, printed in black on a heavy ivory wove paper with full margins, 12 3/8 x 9, the sheet 16 1/4 x 11 5/8 inches, archival matting.

A fine fresh and unusually strong impression of this iconic image.

This composition was essentially complete in the first state, but the hair of the man and woman were undifferentiated; in the second state Nolde cut a contour line between the two to clarify their separation, and also corrected some errant spotting in the face of the man.

Although Nolde made most of his woodcuts earlier in his career, he created this important image in a later period, just before his work was denounced by the Nazis as “entartete Kunst” – degenerate art.