Otto Mueller. 1930.
Lithograph.
Dube L 288 II (of II). Signed, dated, titled "O.M." and numbered "3/20" by a hand other than that of the artist. From an edition of 20 copies. On firm off-white Japon. 49.3 x 38.2 cm (19.4 x 15 in). Sheet: 71 x 49,5 cm (27,6 x 19,5 in).
Heckel was a close friend of Otto Mueller when he died of tuberculosis on September 24, 1930, and he dedicated his exhibition at Ferdinand in November that year to "Dem Andenken Otto Muellers" (in memory of Otto Mueller). He also organized his estate together with Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, signed prints that were still unsigned and tried for commemorative exhibitions and publications on the work of his early deceased artist friend. [JS].
• Imprtant artistic document of Heckel's mourning the loss of his friend and "Brücke" companion Otto Mueller.
• Next to this lithograph, the very similar painting "Bildnis Otto Mueller" (Brücke-Museum, Berlin) was also made the year the "Brücke" artist Otto Mueller passed away.
• Fine proof on a large sheet with full margins.
• Rare. To date only one copy was offered on the international auction market (source: artprice.com).
• Other copies are at, among others, the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz and the Saarlandmuseum Saarbrücken.

PROVENANCE: Hermann Gerlinger Collection, Würzburg (with the collector's stamp on the reverse, Lugt 6032).

EXHIBITION: Schleswig-Holsteinisches Landesmuseum Schloss Gottdorf, Schleswig (permanent loan from the Hermann Gerlinger Collection, 1995-2001).
Kunstmuseum Moritzburg, Halle an der Saale (permanent loan from the Hermann Gerlinger Collection, 2001-2017).
Buchheim Museum, Bernried (permanent loan from the Hermann Gerlinger Collection, 2017-2022).
Erich Heckel. Einfühlung und Ausdruck, ed. by Daniel J. Schreiber, ex. cat. Buchheim Museum, Bernried, October 31, 2020 - March 7, 2021, p. 327 (with illu.).

LITERATURE: Heinz Spielmann (ed.), Die Maler der Brücke. Sammlung Hermann Gerlinger, Stuttgart 1995, p. 326, SHG no. 509 (with illu.).
Hermann Gerlinger, Katja Schneider (eds.), Die Maler der Brücke. Inventory catalog Hermann Gerlinger Collection, Halle (Saale) 2005, p. 238, SHG no. 533 (with illu.).
From a letter Siddi Heckel wrote to Gustav Schiefler on December 23, 1930, quoted from: Ebner/Gabelmann, Erich Heckel, Verzeichnis der Druckgraphik, vol. II, p. 188.

In good condition. Upper margin with faint isolated crimped and rubbed spots. Right edge minimally crimped in places and with a superficial paper blemish. Lower left margin with a faint stain, margins with tiny isolated stains, Thumbed and rubbed. With a brownish stain below the nose and a rubbed spot on the chin.