Fritz Klimsch

FRITZ KLIMSCH (Frankfurt, 1870 - Friburg, 1960).
"Die Hockende.
Bronze.
Signed. With foundry stamp H. Noack, Berlin.
Measurements: 50 x 25 x 26 cm.

Unlike other more introspective works, here the female figure is in a position of active repose. She is bent down but with an attentive gaze, which shows a great mastery of the anatomy in a complex physical posture. The surface allows us to appreciate the play of light and shadow on the musculature, which gives a sense of vitality and realism to the figure.
Belonging to a lineage of artists, Fritz Klimsch studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin, where he was a student of Fritz Schaper. In 1898 he was one of the founding members of the Berlin Secession. He had the opportunity to become personally acquainted with Rodin's work, which impressed him with its expressiveness and vivacity. Along with Rodin, his other great reference was Adolf von Hildebrand, who, in contrast to the French sculptor, represented balance and serenity. Both sculptors, together with his trips to Italy and Greece, explain his style and evolution: he began making Art Nouveau sculptures, to gradually refine his style towards classicism, especially after 1933. This caused the National Socialism to appropriate his style, which they considered as a great artist, and included him in their Gottbegnadeten-Liste; in fact, he participated in the Great Exhibition of "German Art" organized by them, and received in 1940 the Goethe Medal in recognition of his art.