Zirkus des Lebens
1977
Alfred Kubin
Austria
Art Medium:
Pen drawings, some coloured with washes of coloured ink.
Description:
This strange set of Gypsy fortune telling cards was created by Alfred Kubin (1877-1959), an enthusiast for the mystical, the mysterious, the obscure and the enigmatic. He was an Austrian printmaker, illustrator and occasional writer and is now considered an important representative of Symbolism and Expressionism. In 1938, at the Anschluss of Austria and Nazi Germany, his work was declared to be degenerate art but he managed to continue working during World War II. In the post-war period he was awarded a number of honours by the Austrian state. His set of cards numbered 32 was strangely numbered as 2-33. They were created in 1931-32.These were drawn in pen with energy and high expression. Some were coloured with watercolour. He made three versions of the designs, each with subtle variations. He drew on some traditional designs but worked these into his own style. The 32 cards with the surviving alternative versions were published by the Austrian card maker Paitnik in 1977. This is the only publication of the cards. The passage of time has begun to restore the reputation of Kubin. Set of 32 final versions + 45 alternatives. Supplied in a solid box. Includes a 140 page book in German and English.
