Wind und Welle. Ölstudie. Ca. 1924-1928.
Oil on fibreboard, laid on a second hard fibre board.
Signed lower right and inscribed lower center. 33 x 51 cm (12,9 x 20 in).

For years Franz von Stuck was occupied with the theme of ”wind and wave“ rendering it on several paintings. The depiction of the personified elements air and water seems to be in the focus only at a first superficial look, as the much celebrated symbolist Stuck also shows an erotic connotation of the motif: Wind is depicted as a muscular winged man, the wave is a pale red-haired beauty. By means of this personification Stuck turns the dynamics of nature's elements the rhythmic to and fro of wind and water into a symbol of erotic between man and woman. In his last year 1928 Stuck executed the motif twice, with just little variations. The second painting, almost twice the size, remained incomplete. This oil study shows great compliance with the theme's last variant and was presumably made in preparation of the two paintings from the last year of Stuck's life. [CB].