Berlin/New York. An unusual book hasappeared on the art market: the illustrated volumeDRAWINGS--DESSINS--ZEICHNUNGEN of Arno Breker (1900-1991). In thelarge format publication (33 x 26 cm) there are 110 drawings,watercolors and mixed techniques of the various creativeperiods.
This book is at the same time a valuable expansionof the magnificent volume of pictures "Arno Breker - A Life for theBeautiful", by the French art historian Dominique Egret. It waspublished in the German publishing house Grabert Verlag, and in theUnited States it can be obtained from West-Art Gallery (10545 MainStreet, Clarence, New York 14031. fax 716-741-2997, e-mail:zavrel@meaus.com).
Arno Breker is the leading sculptor of theclassical tradition of the 20th century, who has placed the humanbeing in the center of his work. As an art personality andcontemporary of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Ernst Fuchs, LeonorFini, Man Ray, George Braque, Andre Derain, Marc Chagall, JohnnyFriedlaender, Jean Cocteau, Charles Despiau, Aristide Maillol, hedefinitely belongs to the great ones of European art of the 20thcentury.
The very select book with the masterful drawingslinks up with the art of Auguste Rodin, Charles Despiau and AristideMaillol, steeped in tradition. In this artistic succession, ArnoBreker stands in his place firmly with his total work as a sculptor,as well as with his drawings.
Insight into the poetry and power of the Master
What does the observer see in the book?
He gets an insight into the power to make drawingsof the Master, for whom the most prominent personalities of his timesat model for portrait busts. He gets an insight not only into thetechniques of the drawings, but also into the poetry of theartist.
The names of the models of his drawings arehowever veiled in the veil of secrets, and remain largely anonymous,apart form a few beautiful contemporary youths, who have won medalsand glory in the Olympic Games.
In the book of drawings Arno Breker proves morethan once that he is the creator of the ideal portrait of the humanbeing: the creator of the man and in equal measure creator of thewoman. In his female models of the 1920's in Paris one finds thelonging and eroticism, for which the young artist develops a specialsensitivity. The power and admiration of the divine creations comesyet in all his drawings into expression. This is valid also for hismature works as well as for the last drawings from the year1990.
The work was edited by the author Uwe Möller,president of the Arno Breker Society. The scientific oversight wasprovided by Dr. Carola Breker. Thus the book has become a work ofhigh importance in art history. This goes also for the configurationin dark blue cloth cover with a signature of the artist embossed insilver. The fact that the representative volume appeared in German,French and English only strengthens the international interest init.
Loyalty to Nature and Tradition
Breker's editor of many years, J.F. Bodenstein haspublished it in the MARCO Edition Bonn-Paris-New York. The vividtext, the detailed description of the illustrations are clearlyarranged and informative. A photograph of the atelier by Marco G.Bodenstein brings to the reader a special pleasure. It shows ArnoBreker with one of his male models, as he works in the studio. It isso current as if it were photographed only yesterday. The publicationof photographs of female models during work in the atelier was notpossible. In the meantime, the beautiful women have all married. Itcould have possibly caused problems with the husbands, if the sawtheir wives shown as nude models.
A valuable addition to the book is the reprintedhandwritten creed of the artist: "Loyalty to Nature and to theTradition are my foundation pillars". The Master has written thissentence on November 30, 1980, at the age of 80. In brief: this is awonderful book with masterful drawings by Arno Breker, some of thempublished for the first time. This publication should not be absentfrom any art collection and from any library.
Title: "Arno Breker - ZEICHNUNGEN - DESSINS -DRAWINGS"
33x26 cm, reproductions of 110 drawings1922-1990,
Edition: MARCO Bonn-Berlin-Paris-NewYork,
Händelstraße 12, 53115 Bonn -Germany
Edited by Uwe Möller and Dr. CarolaBreker
Text in English, French and German
ISBN 3-921 754-37-2
Price: $ 40.00
In USA, you can order from: West-Art, 10545 MainStreet, Clarence, New York 14031.
Price $ 40 plus $ 5 shipping. Internet:zavrel@meaus.com)
http://www.meaus.com/brekerdrawings.htm