Häuserruine in Lille. 1915.
Pencil drawing.
Monogrammed and dated in the lower right. On firm wove paper. 25.4 x 35.2 cm (10 x 13.8 in), size of sheet.

More works from the Max Niedermayer Collection, Limes-Verlag Wiesbaden, will be offered in our auctions throughout the year. [MH].

• Created in early April 1915 during a two-day stay in Lille. Max Beckmann perceived the destroyed city of Lille as an apocalyptic urban landscape.
• Beckmann is internationally regarded as one of the most important protagonists of Modernism.
• Significant provenance: From the collection of art dealers Käthe and Walter Carl, who were well acquainted with Beckmann.

The work will be included in the upcoming catalog of drawings by Dr. Stephan von Wiese and Hedda Finke under number 509. We are grateful to both of them for their kind assistance.

PROVENANCE: Max Beckmann studio.
Käthe and Walter Carl Collection, Frankfurt am Main (acquired from the above between 1916 and 1918, collector's stamp on the reverse).
Dr. Max Niedermayer Collection (1905-1968), Wiesbaden (acquired from the above).
Estate of Dr. Max Niedermayer, Wiesbaden.
Private collection Rhineland-Palatinate (acquired from the above in 1978).
Since then in family ownership.

In good condition. Slightly browned and with two areas of light edge wear. The edges are slightly soiled due to the technique used. The stamp on the reverse is slightly visible on the front. With a few isolated foxing spots and a light faded spot in the lower right half of the image.