LYONEL FEININGER (1871 New York 1956) Mural for the Marine Transportation Building, New York Worlds Fair 1939. 1938. Watercolour and ink on paper. Signed and dated lower right: Feininger 1938. Titled lower centre: Mural for the Marine Transportation Building / New York Worlds Fair 1939. 18.7 × 63.5 cm. The work is registered in the archive of the Lyonel Feininger Projet LLC, New York/Berlin, under number 426-03-03-11. Provenance: - Curt Sachs, Berlin, acquired directly from the artist. - Gabrielle Forrest, New Jersey, by descent from the above. - Private collection USA, by descent from the above in 2009. - Auction Christies, New York, 5.5.2011, lot 159. - Galerie Wienerroiter & Kohlbacher, Vienna. - Private collection Germany, acquired from the above gallery on 26.8.2013. When Lyonel Feininger left Germany after a good five decades, the Bauhaus Master ventured into an uncertain future. As a German in America of the mid-1930s, he was unlikely to receive many new commissions. It was not until he was commissioned to paint a mural for the Transportation Building at the New York Worlds Fair in 1939 that his strained financial situation improved. For the exhibition building of the American shipping companies in Queens, Feininger was commissioned to produce a mural to be shown in the entrance area next to two huge ships bows. The watercolour offered here represents a preliminary study created on a 1:60 scale of the 36.6 x 7.6 meter final size. Feiningers early fascination with technology and all things maritime are evident here — from Columbuss caravels to the clipper ships of the 19th century and the large passenger liners of the 20th century, the development of shipping is depicted as a "Tour dHorizon" in five periods. The composition is notable for its highly sophisticated harmony of proportion and colour, with its palette carefully coordinated with the wall colours of the building, and provides the viewer with a clear sense of the murals appearance at the Worlds Fair. Thus, this work combines a biographical twist of fate with Feiningers constructive thinking and early passion for shipping. LYONEL FEININGER (1871 New York 1956) Mural for the Marine Transportation Building, New York Worlds Fair 1939. 1938. Aquarell, Feder und Tusche auf Papier. Unten links signiert und datiert: Feininger 1938. Unten mittig betitelt: Mural for the Marine Transportation Building / New York Worlds Fair 1939. 18,7 × 63,5 cm. Das Werk ist im Archiv des Lyonel Feininger Projet LLC, New York/Berlin, unter der Nummer 426-03-03-11 registriert. Provenienz: - Curt Sachs, Berlin, direkt beim Künstler erworben. - Gabrielle Forrest, New Jersey, durch Erbschaft von Obigem. - Privatsammlung USA, 2009 durch Erbschaft von Obiger. - Auktion Christies, New York, 5.5.2011, Los 159. - Galerie Wienerroiter & Kohlbacher, Wien. - Privatbesitz Deutschland, am 26.8.2013 in obiger Galerie erworben. Als Lyonel Feininger nach gut fünf Jahrzehnten Deutschland verl?sst, bricht der Bauhaus-Meister erster Stunde in eine ungewisse Zukunft auf. In der neuen Welt wird er zun?chst als Deutscher kaum neue Auftr?ge haben. Erst**eine an der Weltausstellung 1939 in New York für das Transportation Building zu entstehende Wandmalerei sollte seine angespannte finanzielle Situation verbessern. Für das Ausstellungsgeb?ude der US-amerikanischen Schifffahrtsgesellschaften in Queens bekommt Feininger den Auftrag ein Wandgem?lde zu fertigen, das im Eingangsbereich neben zwei riesigen Schiffsbugen gezeigt werden soll. Das hier angebotene Aquarell stellt im Verh?ltnis 1:60**für**Originalgr?sse von 36,6 × 7,6 m entstandene Vorstudie dar. Dabei zeigt sich Feiningers frühe Faszination für Technik und alles Maritime. Von Kolumbus Karavellen über**Klipper des 19. Jahrhunderts und den grossen Passagierdampfern des 20. Jahrhunderts wird**Entwicklung der Schifffahrt als ?Tour d’Horizon“ in fünf Perioden dargestellt.**Komposition überzeugt durch eine besonders ausgeklügelte Harmonie in Proportion und Farbe und l?sst den Betrachter eine gute Vorstellung davon geben, wie das Wandgem?lde an der Weltausstellung ausgesehen haben muss.**Farbgebung wurde vorsichtig auf**Wandfarben des Geb?udes abgestimmt. So verdichtet sich in diesem Werk eine biografische Schicksalsstunde mit Feiningers konstruktivem Denken und früher Passion für**Schifffahrt. notes:*
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