Interpretation of the Finding of a Glove, title sheet (recto) and colophon (verso)

Max Klinger (German, 1857–1920)

Friedrich Felsing (German, active 1880s)

1880-1881; published 1882

Medium/TechniqueLetterpress on paper, recto and verso

DimensionsHeight x width: 54.2 × 72.5 cm (21 5/16 × 28 9/16 in.)

Credit LineKatherine E. Bullard Fund in memory of Francis Bullard

Accession number2021.288.11

On View

Not on view

ClassificationsPrints

Description

This print portfolio ranks among the most important works of German symbolism by one of the avant-garde’s leading artists, Max Klinger. The imagery traces a dream-like narrative of obsession with a woman and her glove. The subject has roots in Romantic literature, for example the stories of E.T.A. Hoffman, as well as descriptions of modern fashion by such writers as Octave Uzanne. It anticipates the work of Sigmund Freud on fetish objects.

InscriptionsIn letterpress: Paraphrase / über den / Fund eines Handschuhes. / 10 Blätter / componiert und radiert / von / Max Klinger. / Rad. Op. VI. II. Ausgabe. Exemplar No. [in ms.] 17. / München / Druck von Friedr. Felsing / August 1882 Verso, in letterpress: Erste Ausgabe. München 1880. Druck von Fr. Felsing, München. 25 Exemplare auf franz. China. Format 64/45 Centim. / Zweite Ausgabe. Berlin 1882. Druck von Fr. Felsing, München. 25 Exemplare auf echt Japan. Format 72/55 Centim. / Beide Ausgaben sind von den unverstählten Originalplatten abgezogen.

Provenance2020, sold from a private collection, Cologne, to Gillis Goldman Fine Art, Brussels; 2021, sold by Gillis Goldman to the MFA. (Accession Date: April 14, 2021)