Karl Michel

Dr. Walter Vogel - Exlibris — 1920s German Expressionism

1924

Karl Michel, 'Austellung Karl Michel', woodcut, 1924, edition 20. Signed, dated, numbered 'op. 173' (the artist's inventory number) and '7/20' (the impression number/edition size) and annotated 'Vorgesdruck' (artist's proof) in pencil. A fine, richly-inked impression on hand-made cream, wove paper, with full margins (1 1/16 to 1 1/2 inches); toning to the right sheet edge deckle, otherwise in good condition. With the artist's blind stamp in the bottom center margin. Designed and printed by the artist. Very scarce. Matted to museum standards (unframed). An elegantly designed, dynamic exhibition announcement with the German copy in the block: 'Austellung Karl Michel – Deutsches Buchmuseum Leipzig/Zeitzer str 12, Berlin S.W. 61 Teltower str 33 / Buchschmuck/ Plakate/ Anzeige/ Schultzmarke/ Illustrations/ Ex Libris'. English translation: 'Karl Michel Exhibition – German Book Museum, Leipzig Zeitzer Street 12, Berlin, S.W. 61 Teltower St. 33. / Book Decoration / Posters / Announcements / Illustrations / Ex Libris.' Image size 6 x 4 inches (152 x 102 mm); sheet size 8 1/16 x 5 1/2 inches (205 x 140 mm). ABOUT THE ARTIST Karl Michel (1889-1984) was a noted graphic designer and expressionist printmaker during Germany's pre-Nazi Weimar Republic (1919-1933). Michel’s work was the subject of a feature article in the influential German graphic design magazine 'Das Plakat' (The Poster) in 1920. An anti-war advocate, Michel created a suite of 12 wood engravings depicting his impressions of the humanitarian toll of WWII entitled ‘Humanitas’ (Humanity). The German publishing house Greifenverlag published the series in a folio of unsigned prints. Michel’s graphic work is held in the permanent collections of the Auckland War Memorial Museum (New Zealand), Frederikshavn Kunstmuseum & Exlibrissamling (Denmark), Museum of Applied Arts (Budapest), The Robert Gore Rifkind Center for German Expressionist Studies at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the German Expressionism...

Karl Michel, 'Venus, Ex Libris - Hanns U. Herta Heeren', woodcut, 1923, edition not stated but small. Signed, dated, and numbered 'op.154' in pencil. Signed in the block, lower left. A fine impression, on cream Japan paper, with full margins (15/16 to 2 11/16 inches), in good condition. Printed by the artist. Matted to museum standards (unframed). . Translation: Venus Ex Libris for Hanns and Herta Heeren. Image size 5 15/16 x 4 inches (156 x 102 mm); sheet size 9 5/8 x 6 inches (245 x 152 mm). ABOUT THE ARTIST Karl Michel (1889-1984) was a noted graphic designer and expressionist printmaker during Germany's pre-Nazi Weimar Republic (1919-1933). Michel’s work was the subject of a feature article in the influential German graphic design magazine Das Plakat (The Poster) in 1920. An anti-war advocate, Michel created a suite of 12 wood engravings depicting his impressions of the humanitarian toll of WWII entitled ‘Humanitas’ (Humanity). The German publishing house Greifenverlag published the series in a reduced folio of unsigned prints. Michel’s graphic work is held in the permanent collections of the Auckland War Memorial Museum (New Zealand), Frederikshavn Kunstmuseum & Exlibrissamling (Denmark), Museum of Applied Arts (Budapest), The Robert Gore Rifkind Center for German Expressionist Studies at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the German Expressionism...