Artwork
Adolph Menzel
Adolph Menzel is a charcoal drawing by the Impressionist artist Karl Stauffer-Bern. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. In 1885, Swiss artist Karl Stauffer‑Bern produced a portrait of his contemporary, the German painter Adolph von Menzel.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:signed, dated, and dedicated at lower right in graphite: Herrn H. Paechter/freundschaftl. von/Stauffer Bern/85.; at lower center: gez. Mittwoch 11 Nov. 11-1 Uhr im Atelier/von A. Menzel
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes his facial features and expression, suggesting an exploration of the artist’s inner character rather than a narrative scene.
The drawing presents Karl Stauffer-Bern’s portrait of the German painter Adolph von Menzel, likely completed in 1885. It shows Menzel seated, his posture and attire conveying a dignified, introspective presence. The composition emphasizes his facial features and expression, suggesting an exploration of the artist’s inner character rather than a narrative scene.
Subtle tonal variations and the use of pastel highlight the texture of his clothing and the depth of his gaze, reinforcing the work’s focus on psychological realism. The piece is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C., acquired through a 2007 purchase.
The drawing’s subject, Menzel, was a prominent 19th-century German artist known for his detailed genre scenes and historical paintings, though this work shifts toward a more personal, portrait-based representation. The depiction reflects an interest in capturing the essence of the sitter through careful rendering of facial expression and posture, aligning with broader Romantic-era concerns about individual identity and artistic legacy.
Technique & Style
Adolf Menzel is rendered in charcoal with graphite, stumping, scraped corrections, and touches of yellow pastel on tan wove paper, prepared for transfer, resulting in a tightly rendered portrait drawing. The work measures 29.1 cm in height by 21.8 cm in width and dates to 1885. Its surface shows careful handling, including scraped corrections and pastel accents that add subtle tonal variation.
The piece entered the National Gallery of Art collection in 2007 after passing through the hands of Wolfgang Ratjen and Galerie Kornfeld, reflecting a documented provenance that includes an earlier sale at Galerie Kornfeld in 1990.
History & Provenance
The drawing entered the collection via a Galerie Kornfeld, Bern auction on 22 June 1990, where it was lot 984.
It was subsequently acquired by Wolfgang Ratjen and purchased by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in 2007. The work is dated 1885 and depicts Adolph von Menzel in portrait form.
Context
The drawing was created in 1885 by Karl Stauffer-Bern and portrays Adolph von Menzel. It entered the National Gallery of Art collection in 2007 after a prior ownership chain that included Galerie Kornfeld, Wolfgang Ratjen, and earlier holders Hermann and Adele Paechter. The work is classified as a portrait drawing in charcoal, graphite with stumping, scraped corrections, touched with yellow pastel, on tan wove paper, and was originally sold at Galerie Kornfeld in Bern on 22 June 1990 (sale no. 984).
Overview
In 1885, Swiss artist Karl Stauffer‑Bern produced a portrait of his contemporary, the German painter Adolph von Menzel. Executed on tan wove paper, the work combines charcoal, graphite, and touches of yellow pastel, employing stumping and scraped corrections to refine the image. The paper bears an indentation indicating a transfer process, suggesting a meticulous approach to rendering the sitter’s likeness.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Karl Stauffer, known as Karl Stauffer-Bern (2 September 1857, Trubschachen – 24 January 1891, Florence) was a Swiss painter, etcher and sculptor.
