Lot 132: Arnold Clementschitsch (Villach 1887-1970) 'Munich Streetlife', c. 1920, the reverse with an inscription in pencil in the artist's hand '), Arnold Clementschitsch m. p. Clementschitsch, oil on canvas, laid down on cardboard, 53 x 42 cm, framed, (K)

Arnold Clementschitsch (Villach 1887-1970) 'Munich Streetlife', c. 1920, the reverse with an inscription in pencil in the artist's hand '), Arnold Clementschitsch m. p. Clementschitsch, oil on canvas, laid down on cardboard, 53 x 42 cm, framed, (K) Mentioned in: Leopoldine Springschitz, Arnold Clementschitsch, Landesmuseum fur Karnten, Klagenfurt 1957. Provenance: Private property, Carinthia/Vienna - acquired directly from the artist. Streetlife scenes used to be an early field for Arnold Clementschitsch to experiment with different formal problems. He skillfully employed the possibilities of Impressionism, Neo-Impressionism, Symbolism, and Cubism to translate reality into art. Aspects of painting and narrative overlapped. From 1917 to 1924, i. e., during seven years that marked a significant artistic development, streetlife used to be a central subject unfolding a rich diversity of expression which the artist was never to achieve again in his future career. He understood how to adopt programmatic inspirations without denying his personal concern as an artist and never explored a terrain where he could not find a firm foothold. He quenched his 'wild thirst for reality', to employ a saying by Utrillo, only with beverages that were wholesome to him so that we never have the feeling that he experimented with methods he could not cope with. In line with the allegorical aspect of his art, his own experience is turned into general symbolism, and his distinct clarity in outline and colour never speculates with blurred mystical effects.