Conrad Felixmüller
1897 - 1977

Portrait Oskar Elsner. 1921.
Oil on canvas.
Signed and dated in the lower left. Dated and inscribed “No. 249” on the reverse of the canvas. Signed and inscribed “Berlin” on the stretcher, as well as with the address stamp. 55 x 60 cm (21.6 x 23.6 in).

• From the artist's peak creative period.
• Felixmüller – rising star of the Dresden and Berlin avant-garde.
• In color and composition, this extraordinarily powerful, avant-garde portrait is of museum quality.
• With his unique style, Felixmüller became the most important portraitist of his time.

PROVENANCE: Artist's studio (until at least 1970).
Private collection, Berlin (acquired from the artist, until 1985: Christie's).
Private collection, Berlin (acquired from the above in 1985).

EXHIBITION: Conrad Felixmüller – Special Exhibition, Kunsthaus l. Schaller, Stuttgart, 1925, cat. no. 3.
Berlin 1977, cat. no. 16 (here titled “Der politische Sträfling” [The Political Convict]).
Conrad Felixmüller 1897-1977, Museum am Ostwall, Dortmund / Nassauischer Kunstverein, Wiesbaden / Saarland Museum Saarbrücken, 1978/79, cat. no. 152 (with color ill. p. 555; titled “Der politische Sträfling”).
Kunst im Aufbruch - Dresden 1918-1933, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Albertinum, Dresden, September 30, 1980-February 25, 1981, cat. no. 89 (here titled “Der politische Sträfling”).

LITERATURE: Heinz Spielmann (ed.), Titus Felixmüller (ed.), Conrad Felixmüller. Monograph and catalogue raisonné of paintings, Cologne 1996, CR no. 249 (with ill.).
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Christie's, Manson & Woods, Impressionist and Modern Paintings and Sculpture, London, June 24, 1985, lot 19 (with ill.).

The catalogue raisonné notes the following about this painting:
“Burned by the artist in 1933 – head cut out – fragment in private ownership (until 1985) – whereabouts unknown.”