PAUL KLEE (1879-1940) - photo 1
PAUL KLEE (1879-1940) - photo 2
PAUL KLEE (1879-1940) - photo 3

PAUL KLEE (1879-1940)

Lot 127
10.11.2022 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 819 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 839049
Lot 127 | PAUL KLEE (1879-1940)
Estimate value
$ 600 000 – 800 000
PAUL KLEE (1879-1940)

Die Schlange auf der Leiter

signed 'Klee' (lower right)

oil, watercolor and pen and ink on paper laid down by the artist on board, nailed down by the artist on a stretcher and in the artist's frame

11 3/4 x 18 7/8 in. (29.8 x 47.8 cm.)

Executed in 1929





Provenance

With Alfred Flechtheim, Berlin and Düsseldorf (1930, until at least 1932).

With the Mayor Gallery, London (circa 1933-1935).

Peter Watson, London and Paris (acquired from the artist, May 1939).

Confiscated from the above by the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg and transferred to the Jeu de Paume (ERR no. Watson 3) (1 January 1941).

Intended for transfer to Nikolsburg, Moravia (1 August 1944).

Recovered by the French Resistance, and restituted by the Commission de Récupération Artistique to Peter Watson, London and Paris, (29 December 1945, until at least 1954).

Philip Granville Modern Paintings, London (until 1955).

Berggruen et Cie., Paris (1955, until 1956).

Galerie Beyeler, Basel.

Harold Diamond, New York (until 1971).

Berggruen et Cie., Paris (acquired from the above, 1971).

Private collection, Paris (acquired from the above, 1971).

Private collection, London (acquired from the above); sale, Christie’s, New York, 12 May 2016, lot 48C.

Acquired at the above sale by the late owner.



Literature

R. Vitrac, "A propos des oeuvres récentes Paul Klee" in Cahiers d'Art, Paris, 1930, no. 6, p. 301 (illustrated).

C. Zervos, Histoire de l'art contemporain, Paris, 1938, p. 404 (illustrated).

W. Grohmann, Paul Klee, New York, 1954, p. 416, no. 289 (illustrated, p. 238).

C. Kröll, Die Bildtitel Paul Klees: eine Studie zur Beziehung von Bild und Sprache in der Kunst des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts, Bonn, 1968, p. 70.

M. Huggler, Paul Klee: Die malerei als blick in den kosmos, Frauenfeld, 1969, pp. 109, 221 and 254, no. 13 (illustrated).

C. Müller, Das Zeichen in Bild und Teorie bei Paul Klee: Dissertation, Technische Universität Munich, 1979, p. 127 (illustrated).

A. Janda, "Paul Klee und Nationalgalerie 1919-1937" in Akten, Dresden, 1986, p. 49.

O. Okuda, Paul Klee, exh. cat., Kunsthalle Bern, 2000, p. 226 (illustrated).

The Paul Klee Foundation, ed., Paul Klee: Catalogue Raisonné, 1927-1930, Bern, 2001, vol. 5, p. 405, no. 5096 (illustrated).



Exhibited

Düsseldorf, Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Paul Klee, June-July 1931, p. 11, no. 75.

Berlin, Galerie Alfred Flechtheim, Paul Klee: Neue bilder und aquarelle, November-December 1931, no. 1.

Oslo, Kunstnernes hus, Nyere tysk kunst: maleri og skulptur, January 1932, no. 86.

Copenhagen, Den frie udstilling, Nyere tysk kunst, May 1932, no. 99.

Berlin, Preussische Akademie der Künste, Herbstausstellung, October-November 1932, no. 94.

Berlin, Berliner Secession, Frühjahrs-Ausstellung, May-July 1933, no. 35.

London, The Mayor Gallery, A Survey of Contemporary Art, October 1933, no. 18 (dated 1932).

Kunsthalle Bern, Paul Klee, February-March 1935, p. 5, no. 45.

Kunsthalle Basel, Paul Klee, October-November 1935, p. 5, no. 36.

Kunstmuseum Luzern, Paul Klee: Fritz huf, April-June 1936, p. 4, no. 32.



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