Lot 213 Dα

This bronze sculpture - probably Barlach's most famous piece - illustrates his rare early Flechtheim casts from the Noack sculpture foundry in the Friedenau district of Berlin. In 1926, after the death of Barlach's friend Paul Cassirer, the artist's interests came to be represented by the art dealer Alfred Flechtheim who was based in Berlin and Düsseldorf. Although Flechtheim had his own financial problems, he supported Barlach in building a new studio in Güstrow, in the province of Mecklenburg. The two therefore concluded an agreement on 14 July 1930, planning to cast 20 different models of the years between 1907 and 1930. “Der singende Mann” was initially planned in ten copies which were subsequently realised by 1931. As Barlach's works met with great interest, his casts sold quickly, and six further copies were made in his lifetime. The fragmented but otherwise very typical label on the inside wall of the sculpture indicates that our cast is indeed a copy of the much coveted early Flechtheim series. They were exhibited at Flechtheim's galleries in Berlin and Düsseldorf in November and December 1930. For the general public the exhibition came as a minor sensation, because the artist was more widely known for his wood sculptures. Due to a major change in the political climate, the positive public response to Barlach however soon turned into the opposite.
After the war the Noack foundry stopped using the “Friedenau” stamp which had been a distinctive feature of the artist's early casts. Numbered casts - as in our bronze - were quite rare. The numerations of the older casts are stamped as fractions, i.e. with a horizontal line. This copy of “Der singende Mann” has been peened and created in a sand-casting process, characteristic of the early casts. The glittery-grey moulding sand that can be found like plaque on the inner walls is typical and was used frequently at Noack's sculpture foundry. Two features that are particularly beautiful about this copy are the hands and feet, elaborated in some detail, and the sculpture's patina which verges on olive green and is the result of a salted vinegar bath prior to patination.
“Der singende Mann” is considered to be one of the most important sculptures in German Expressionism. A young man is seated on the ground, singing fervently while clutching his right knee, his angled left leg lying on the ground. The resulting three-dimensional triangular composition, the posture of the figure, leaning back, and the closed eyes serve to emphasise the expressive, contemplative character of this bronze sculpture. The composure must be seen as an expression of a certain spiritual introspection, and the facial features of “Der singende Mann” are calm and serene.
“Der singende Mann” is the sole numbered cast of the early Flechtheim edition being offered for auction since the last few decades. This makes it especially rare.