Oil on canvas. Signed and dated upper right. 90 x 72.5 cm. [AR]. - Made for one of the six children of the art-loving industrialist Carl Lewin from Breslau, who was also portrayed by Georg Kolbe. - Initially criticized for a lack of idealization in his earlier portraits, Liebermann eventually became one of the most sought-after portraitists of his time. In 1927, he received a commission to paint the Reich President Paul von Hindenburg. - Similar works can be found in numerous museum collections, including the Kunsthalle Hamburg, the Staatliche Museen Schwerin and the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin. LITERATURE: Matthias Eberle, Max Liebermann. Werkverzeichnis der Gemälde und Ölstudien, vol. II: 1900-1935, Munich 1996, no. 1922/15 (illu. in black and white on p. 1058). -- Galerie Rosen, auction 24, Berlin May 16 - 18, 1955, no. 1876. Peter Günnemann, Hamburg, 18th auction, April 4, 1992, lot 15 (illu. in color).
Carl Lewin, Breslau. Cäcilie Beermann, née Lewin, widowed Markus (obtained from the above, until 1941: gifted to the following as a result of persecution). Hermine Marie Charlotte Lewin, née Radespiel, Berlin (obtained from the above in October 1941). Private possession, Berlin (from the above, until 1955). Presumably privately-owned, Luxembourg (since 1955). Dr. Samuel Teitler, St. Gallen (1978). Peter Günnemann, Hamburg (1992). Munich art trade. Private collection, Berlin (until 1993). Kunstkreis Berlin GbR (since 1993). Private collection Northern Germany. Amicable agreement between the above and the heirs of Cäcilie Beermann (2024). The work is free from restitution claims. The offer is made subject to an amicable agreement with the heirs of Cäcilie Beermann on the basis of a fair and just solution
This portrait is one of four paintings that the textile manufacturer Carl Lewin commissioned his friend Max Liebermann with: a portrait for four of his six children - the others received his portrait bust by Georg Kolbe. The painting shown here was intended for his daughter Cäcilie, another for Leo Lewin, the important art collector (and her brother). As a Jew, Cäcilie suffered persecution by the National Socialists soon after the Nazis came into power. Her two sons were able to flee to South Africa in time, but Cäcilie was not. Shortly before she was deported to Auschwitz, she gave her possessions, including her art collection, to a distant non-Jewish relative, Hermine Marie Lewin, née Radespiel. The portrait thus remained in Berlin and was saved from confiscation. Cäcilie did not survive deportation and her sons never received the painting back. Instead, the painting was sold by the descendants of Hermine Marie Lewin in 1955. Today, the painting with its eventful history can be offered free from restitution claims based on a fair and just solution. [CFN]
In good condition. A small retouched spot in the upper right margin. Isolated spots of craquelure, predominantly in the light, impasto areas and in the upper body of the portraited. A tiny color loss in the upper right corner. Isolated brown spots in the lower left and above the left shoulder, probably partly retouched but also visible in daylight. The condition report was compiled in daylight with the help of an ultraviolet light and to the best of knowledge.
Lot Details
Oil on canvas. Signed and dated upper right. 90 x 72.5 cm. [AR]. - Made for one of the six children of the art-loving industrialist Carl Lewin from Breslau, who was also portrayed by Georg Kolbe. - Initially criticized for a lack of idealization in his earlier portraits, Liebermann eventually became one of the most sought-after portraitists of his time. In 1927, he received a commission to paint the Reich President Paul von Hindenburg. - Similar works can be found in numerous museum collections, including the Kunsthalle Hamburg, the Staatliche Museen Schwerin and the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin. LITERATURE: Matthias Eberle, Max Liebermann. Werkverzeichnis der Gemälde und Ölstudien, vol. II: 1900-1935, Munich 1996, no. 1922/15 (illu. in black and white on p. 1058). -- Galerie Rosen, auction 24, Berlin May 16 - 18, 1955, no. 1876. Peter Günnemann, Hamburg, 18th auction, April 4, 1992, lot 15 (illu. in color).
Carl Lewin, Breslau. Cäcilie Beermann, née Lewin, widowed Markus (obtained from the above, until 1941: gifted to the following as a result of persecution). Hermine Marie Charlotte Lewin, née Radespiel, Berlin (obtained from the above in October 1941). Private possession, Berlin (from the above, until 1955). Presumably privately-owned, Luxembourg (since 1955). Dr. Samuel Teitler, St. Gallen (1978). Peter Günnemann, Hamburg (1992). Munich art trade. Private collection, Berlin (until 1993). Kunstkreis Berlin GbR (since 1993). Private collection Northern Germany. Amicable agreement between the above and the heirs of Cäcilie Beermann (2024). The work is free from restitution claims. The offer is made subject to an amicable agreement with the heirs of Cäcilie Beermann on the basis of a fair and just solution
This portrait is one of four paintings that the textile manufacturer Carl Lewin commissioned his friend Max Liebermann with: a portrait for four of his six children - the others received his portrait bust by Georg Kolbe. The painting shown here was intended for his daughter Cäcilie, another for Leo Lewin, the important art collector (and her brother). As a Jew, Cäcilie suffered persecution by the National Socialists soon after the Nazis came into power. Her two sons were able to flee to South Africa in time, but Cäcilie was not. Shortly before she was deported to Auschwitz, she gave her possessions, including her art collection, to a distant non-Jewish relative, Hermine Marie Lewin, née Radespiel. The portrait thus remained in Berlin and was saved from confiscation. Cäcilie did not survive deportation and her sons never received the painting back. Instead, the painting was sold by the descendants of Hermine Marie Lewin in 1955. Today, the painting with its eventful history can be offered free from restitution claims based on a fair and just solution. [CFN]
In good condition. A small retouched spot in the upper right margin. Isolated spots of craquelure, predominantly in the light, impasto areas and in the upper body of the portraited. A tiny color loss in the upper right corner. Isolated brown spots in the lower left and above the left shoulder, probably partly retouched but also visible in daylight. The condition report was compiled in daylight with the help of an ultraviolet light and to the best of knowledge.
Max Liebermann 
