Lot 1113 | Johann Peters Hasenclever | The Sneezer

HASENCLEVER, JOHANN PETERS
1810 Remscheid - 1853 Düsseldorf

Title: The Sneezer.
Date: 1836.
Technique: Oil on canvas.
Measurement: 27.5 x 22.5cm.
Notation: Signed and dated lower right: "Hasenclever 36".
Frame: Framed.

Verso:
Label attached to the frame "Deutsche Jahrhundert-Ausstellung" National-Galerie, Berlin 1906 with provenance indication "Besitz Emilie Eckardt, Halle/Saale".

Cf. literature:
H. Bestvater-Hasenclever: J.P. Hasenclever - Ein wacher Zeitgenosse des Biedermeier, Recklinghausen 1979, p. 19, fig. 18;
St. Geppert and D. Soechting (eds.): Johann Peter Hasenclever (1810-1853). Ein Malerleben zwischen Biedermeier und Revolution, Mainz 2003, p. 129, ill. 49.

Provenance:
Private ownership, Germany.

"Der Nieser" is a work that brought Johann Peter Hasenclever great fame. The artist's first successes were small-format portraits of individual figures with humorous characterisations: In addition to the subject of the present painting, the "Begging Sister", the "Milkmaid" and the "Politician" should be mentioned. The figure depicted becomes the victim of the artist's satirical mockery, who portrays her alone, in a private moment, without the protection of secondary figures who could draw the viewer's attention to her.

The present work was exhibited at the German Centennial Exhibition at the National Gallery in Berlin in 1906, with the provenance indication "Property Emilie Eckardt, Halle/Saale". It is probably the same painting that is illustrated in Bestvater-Hasenclever (1979, ill. 18) and Gepper/Soechting (2003, ill. 49) as having been painted in 1836 and presented at the Berlin Academy Exhibition in 1906.

At least one other version of this work is known, which was auctioned by VAN HAM on 21st April 2007. The artist repeated successful prototypes several times, which is not surprising as he inserted himself into the grey areas of 19th century morality with unerring ingenuity and veiled humour. Over the last few years, we have successfully offered and sold several works by Johann Peter Hasenclever. With the present painting, VAN HAM once again confirms itself as the reference house for this artist and 19th century German painting.