Erich Buchholz (1891-1972) - Abstrakte Komposition

In the auction is an abstract composition by the prominent German artist Erich Buchholz from 1920/1973 in the Constructivist style, size: 34.5 x 48 cm, motif size 25 x 22.5 cm. The condition is excellent.

The woodcut is signed with an artist’s stamp under the motif as well as with a provenance stamp on the back of the image. The limited edition of the woodcut from 1920 was issued by Buchholz’s wife and estate administrator Helena Buchholz-Starck shortly after his death in an edition of “175 copies” in 1973.

In a parallel auction there are other German Constructivists (KESTING and MAATSCH).

VITA ERICH BUCHHOLZ (Source: Wikipedia)

In his painting, the first abstract works appeared and the large oil painting Crucifixion was created. From 1920, constructive tendencies appear in his work: Buchholz designed a stage set in the Dresden Albert-Theater with movable color fields for Julius Weismann’s opera Swan White, which was performed in 1923 in the production by Karl Vogt.[2] In 1921 he came into contact with the Dadaists Hannah Höch, Raoul Hausmann and Richard Hülsenbeck.

His 1922 constructivist-designed living and working space at Berliner Herkulesufer 15 became a meeting point for Dadaist artists and progressive architects. Erich Buchholz studied at the Berliner Baugewerkschule on Kurfürstenstraße, and at the Galerie van Diemen he met El Lissitzky. This led to a connection with Suprematism.

After 1922, Erich Buchholz gave up painting and, from 1923, turned to architecture, advertising graphics and product design. At the same time he also admitted Dadaist influences in his work. In a ten-page text written in 1923, entitled The Great Break, Buchholz described his positions on Neoplasticism, Suprematism and the stance of his own works. The author dated the break to the year 1919. In 1925 Buchholz took over the workshop leadership at the Dramatic Theater in Berlin under Karl Vogt.

In 1925 Buchholz moved with his family to Germendorf. Here the couple owned one hectare of land for their own farming. From 1928, part of the property hosted a gravel pit.

After coming to power, Erich Buchholz was forbidden to paint in 1933. He was subjected to repression under the National Socialists and was arrested several times. In 1945 he was able to resume painting and already had a solo exhibition in 1947. In 1950 he returned to Berlin and in 1951 took up an studio on Ludwigkirchstraße in Berlin-Wilmersdorf.

Erich Buchholz died in late 1972 in Berlin at the age of 81.

Source: Wikipedia