Erich Heckel - Graphik der Gegenwart 1 - 1931

Erich Heckel – Graphik der Gegenwart, Volume 1 – 1931 – First edition with 5 original woodcuts by Erich Heckel

Heckel, Erich (1883–1970): Graphik der Gegenwart, Volume 1. Berlin, Euphorion Verlag, 1931. First edition. 28 leaves (56 pages), with 48 illustrations on plates and five original woodcuts by Erich Heckel, including colored works. Original paper-covered boards, 24 × 16 cm.

A significant early monograph on the graphic work of Erich Heckel, co-founder of the Expressionist artist group Die Brücke.

Particularly appealing is the elaborate artistic Ausstattung with five original woodcuts by the artist:

* Original cover woodcut in two colors, spanning the front and back covers (Dube 348).
* “Circus” and “Dancing Sailors,” two original color woodcuts on the endpapers (Dube 349–350).
* Original woodcut vignette (Dube 351).
* “Stadium,” original woodcut as frontispiece (Dube 352).

The publication combines an extensive documentation of Heckel’s graphic work with autonomous original pieces by the artist. An important collecting piece of German Expressionism and the book art of the Classical Modern period.

Condition: Original binding with age-related signs of wear, especially at the spine with minor damage. The original woodcut running along the front and back covers is affected in the spine area, but the two cover surfaces are well preserved. The original color woodcuts on the endpapers are well preserved; the front endpaper shows a slight central crease. Overall, a neatly preserved copy with well-preserved graphic works.

Literature: Dube 348–352; Jentsch 166.