KLINGER Max (1857-1920):

Katze und säugende Jungen
(Mother cat with nursing kittens)

Etching, drypoint and aquatint. Signed in pencil, with the number 3 in the lower right margin. Beyer 389. Ca 1878?

Robin Garton, in his catalogue of the Georg Hirzel collection, postulated that this might be Klinger’s first print, on the basis of the experimental strip of aquatint and the tests of drypoint on the plate, as well as the fact that he did not show this print to Singer when the latter was writing his catalogue of the artist’s work. “According to the information given to Singer, Klinger’s first print dates from 1878”.

A fine impression with rich burr on the kittens, printed on hand-made laid paper with wide margins all round. A little cockling from the printing, otherwise in impeccable condition.
130 x 113mm. (with the bevel 140 x 125mm.)
$2,600
Extremely rare, and quite unlike anything else in Klinger’s oeuvre.