Bildnis David Müller. 1919.
Woodcut.
Gercken 1094 II (of IV). Dube H 409. Schiefler H 397. Signed and inscribed "Eigendruck". One of six copies from theis printing state and one of 13 known copies before the larger edition for the Bauhaus portfolio. On Japon, laid on cardboard. 34 x 29.3 cm (13.3 x 11.5 in). Papier: 39,7 x 34 cm (15,6 x 13,3 in).
A larger edition of the fourth state of this woodcut was made for the portfolio "Bauhaus-Drucke, Neue europäische Graphik, 5. Mappe, Deutsche Künstler" published by the Staatliches Bauhaus, Weimar in 1921. [CH].
• Hand-printed by the artist.
• In Switzerland, Kirchner initially did not have access to a printing press, so he made the prints by hand with a folding tool, thus giving each individual copy noticeable variations in the application of color.
• A year earlier, the artist had finally moved to Switzerland where he lived in the house "In den Lärchen" in Davos-Frauenkirch.
• The house belonged to the Davos family Andres Müller, with whom Kirchner maintained friendly contact.
• In the year of creation, the father of the sitter, Andres Müller died and David Müller took over the parental estate.
• The woodcuts created in Davos during these years are considered the most important print portraits of his entire oeuvre.
• Highly significant for the artist: Kirchner later included the print in the fifth portfolio of "Bauhaus Prints" (1921, Weimar).
• Two of the five other known copies of this print are museum-owned: in the Museum Folkwang, Essen and in the Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main.

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

EXHIBITION: Schleswig-Holsteinisches Landesmuseum, Schloss Gottorf, 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).

LITERATURE: Heinz Spielmann (ed.), Die Maler der Brücke. Sammlung Hermann Gerlinger, Stuttgart 1995, pp. 270f., SHG no. 393 (fig. p. 270).
Hermann Gerlinger, Katja Schneider (eds.), Die Maler der Brücke. Inventory catalog Hermann Gerlinger Collection, Halle (Saale) 2005, p. 349, SHG no. 781 (fig.).

In good condition. The fine Japon laminated on a cardboard backing. Isolated rubbed and thinned spots in the outer margins as well as minimal isolated stains.