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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

The Precipice Of Death

Artist:Paul Grabwinkler
Date:C. 1910
Medium:Watercolor On Artist's Paper
Dimensions:Sight Size 29 1/2 x 39 1/2" Framed 34 1/4" X 44"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Exhibited Fine Art
Price: SOLD
Full view
Full view
The artist's signature lower right and frame corner profile
The artist’s signature lower right and frame corner profile
Framed and silk lined under plexiglass in period gold gilt frame
Framed and silk lined under plexiglass in period gold gilt frame

Imbuing Botticelli’s Birth of Venus with early 20th century anxieties about the increasing independence of the New Woman, this beautiful large format symbolist watercolor painting by the important Austrian artist Paul Grabwinkler (Wien, 1880 – 1946) shows a luscious nude on the cliffs with a skeleton at her feet. The clouds beneath her evoke classic Grecian mythology, and the haunting juxtaposition of life and death place the work in the tradition of Gothic romanticism. The darkly allegorical nature of the work is typical of Grabwinkler’s work, which mixed classical imagery, post Impressionist style, and dark early modernist notes. Grabwinkler studied at the historic Wiener Kunstgewerbeschule and began his career as part of the Vienna secessionist / Jugendstil movement.  His work was featured at a Kunstlerhaus Jubilaums exhibition in Vienna in 1908. The artist went on to become a professor at the school of applied arts in Vienna for much of his career. Painting is handsomely framed and lined under plexiglass in a period ornate cornered gold gilt frame.

Detail
Detail
Detail
Detail

The motif of the maiden and the skeleton or skull was hugely popular in the early 20th century, modernizing traditional “Memento Mori” art–which reminded the viewer of the inevitability of death and seductive power of sin–to reflect the great fear of the day; the New Woman. As women became more visible outside the home in the industrializing world, and cosmetics, bicycles, and other tokens of modernity began being used by the younger generation to assert their independence, images of the femme fatale in consort with death began appearing all over. Both alluring and frightening, these depictions were perhaps the perfect metaphor for the shock these pioneering modern women gave to the old order.

 

The iconic early 20th century femme fatale Theda Bara pictured nude with skeleton
The iconic early 20th century vamp Theda Bara pictured nude with skeleton
A Mack Sennett bathing beauty plays Hamlet
A Mack Sennett bathing beauty plays Hamlet
Victorian vamp with skull
Valeska Suratt, the quintessential femme fatale, with skull

The Precipice Of Death

Artist: Paul Grabwinkler
Price:  SOLD

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: allegorical, german, gothic, Jugendstil, macabre, memento mori, nude, Paul Grabwinkler, skeleton, skull, Symbolism, symbolist, The Golden Gallery, Vienna Secession
Added to Gallery: April 30, 2018

 

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    About Grapefruit Moon Gallery

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery, based in Minneapolis MN, specializes in vintage pin up and original illustration art.  We are the proud home of the Bunny Yeager archives.

    Since 2003, Grapefruit Moon Gallery has been a leading dealer of exclusive original paintings by Gil Elvgren, Alberto Vargas, Earl Moran, Rolf Armstrong and Henry Clive, as well as vintage photographs, prints, and period decorative arts in ceramic and metal.

    All artworks featured are original, accurately represented, and guaranteed to be the work of the named artist.

    Interested buyers may view pieces by appointment and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. [Contact Us]

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