Seiltänzer (23. Jahresblatt). 1953.
Woodcut in colors.
Signed, dated and inscribed "f. 1954 23. Jahresblatt". On firm wove paper. 16.4 x 12.5 cm (6.4 x 4.9 in). Sheet: 22 x 15,8 cm (8,6 x 6,2 in).
Released as 23rd annual sheet in 1954. In 1930, Heckel started the tradition of making a print on the occasion of the turn of the year, mostly small woodcuts with a symbolic message that he gave to friends. Until 1968, some 38 of these "annual sheets" were made. [CH/AR].

• Print in strong contrasting colors.
• Only one copy of the woodcut has been offered on the international auction market in the last 30 years (source: artprice.com).
• The world of vaudeville, theater and circus was one of the main subjects of the "Brücke" artists and had a lasting influence on Heckel's artistic work until his late creative period.
• Another copy of this color woodcut is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

PROVENANCE: Hermann Gerlinger Collection, Würzburg (with the collector's stamp, Lugt 6032).

EXHIBITION: Schleswig-Holsteinisches Landesmuseum, Schloss Gottorf, Schleswig (permanent loan from the Hermann Gerlinger Collection, 1995-2001).
Kunstmuseum Moritzburg, Halle an der Saale (permanent loan from the Hermann Gerlinger Collection, 2001-2017).
Buchheim Museum, Bernried (permanent loan from the Hermann Gerlinger Collection, 2017-2022).

LITERATURE: Renate Ebner, Andreas Gabelmann, Erich Heckel. Werkverzeichnis der Druckgraphik, vol. 2: 1914-1968, Munich 2021, no. 962 H b. 1. (of b. 2.).
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Heinz Spielmann (ed.), Die Maler der Brücke. Sammlung Hermann Gerlinger, Stuttgart 1995, pp. 347f., SHG no. 563 (illu. on p. 346).
Hermann Gerlinger, Katja Schneider (eds.), Die Maler der Brücke. Inventory catalog Hermann Gerlinger Collection, Halle (Saale) 2005, p. 260, SHG no. 590 (illu.).

In very good condition. A small stain in the upper right white margin, probably from the making.