Object number2023.4.5

Tulpen und Schwertlilien

Date1950/1951

Artist Emil Nolde (German, 1867-1956)

CultureGerman, Danish

MediumWatercolor

DimensionsSheet: 10 3/8 x 18 1/16 in. (26.4 x 45.9 cm)
Matted: 18 1/4 x 25 5/8 in. (46.4 x 65.1 cm)

Credit LineBequest of Lynn Gross Straus, class of 1946

Period20th c

Classification(s)

Drawings and Watercolors

SignedOn recto, signed lower right corner: Nolde.

BibliographySerge Sabarsky Gallery. Expressionist: paintings, watercolors and drawings by 12 German Expressionists. New York: Serge Sabarsky Gallery, 1984, p. 147ProvenanceEstate of the artist;
Nolde Stiftung Seebüell, 1967;
Marlborough Fine Art, London, acquired January 1967, sold November 1967.
Sotheby's Parke Bernet, New York, Sale 4723M, Impressionist and Modern Drawings and Watercolors, lot 571, November 6, 1981.
Serge Sabarsky Gallery, New York;
Purchased January 2, 1985 by the donor.

Vassar Exhibitions

A Living Legacy: Gifts from Lynn Gross Straus

Exhibition HistoryExpressionisten 2: Aquarelle, Zeichnungen, Ölbilder, Gallery Ilse Schweinsteiger, Munich, Germany, Winter 1982, no. 64;

Emil Nolde: Aquarelle und Druckgraphik, Gallery Ilse Schweinsteiger, Munich, Germany, October - November 1983, no. 5;

Expressionist: paintings, watercolors and drawings by 12 German Expressionists, Serge Sabarsky Gallery, New York, December 1984

Label TextTaking inspiration from flower beds at his home and studio in Seebüll in far northern Germany, Emil Nolde created botanical watercolors that often convey the ethereal and spiritual essence of flowers. Yet, his paintings are not entirely abstract representations of his garden, with their suggestion of leaves, stems, and stamens. Nolde’s technique of painting wet-on-wet (applying watercolor to damp paper) emphasizes the organic creation of this image of nature. The disregard for contour and shading suggests his disinterest in capturing light and atmospheric conditions. Tight cropping and a vibrant color palette enhance the emotional intensity of the composition.

DescriptionLoose brushwork of blue, purple, red, and yellow creates a composition of flowers with long green stems against a purple background.

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email loebcollections@vassar.edu