Christian Schad (1894-1982) - Illusion

Christian Schad (1894-1982), Illusion, (Schadography), 1962.

Photogram/ Schadography, about 30 x 23.2 cm, mounted on Bristol board 59 x 42 cm. Pencil numbered, signed and dated.

Provenance: Private collection Berlin, from the estate of Christian Schad’s widow.

Condition: Flawless; has never been exhibited and was kept in the original folder. Photos are part of the condition description.

About Christian Schad (1894–1982):
He was a German painter and graphic artist, known as a major representative of the New Objectivity. He studied in Munich, lived in Switzerland and Paris, before settling in Berlin. His works are characterized by a precise, almost photorealistic painting style, through which he critically portrayed the society of the 1920s. He became famous for his experimental “Schadographien” – early forms of the photogram technique. Schad’s art continues to influence modern portrait painting today.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Christian Schad returned to graphic arts, particularly linocuts. During this period he stayed several times in Italy, including Venice, where he drew inspiration from classical art and architecture. His linocuts from this phase often depict mythological and religious motifs and reflect an intensive engagement with traditional print techniques. These works mark a late but significant expansion of his artistic oeuvre.