Ernst Barlach: Sculpture 'The Book Reader' (1936), reduction in bronze, height 41 cm

Ernst Barlach's book reader - a milestone of modernismThe motif of the reader is a key motif in Barlach's work, which he already thematised in the lithograph 'Wem Zeit wie Ewigkeit und Ewigkeit wie Zeit, der ist befreit von allem Leid' from 1916 and in a charcoal drawing from 1922. The motif was given particular density in the spring of 1936 in the sculpture 'The Book Reader'. 'The Book Reader' is completely immersed in his reading, radiating concentration and meditative harmony. He lives in his world: 'His back, resembling a spherical shell, acts like a shield to keep out distractions, protecting the intimacy and solitude of the reader, the prerequisites for all intellectual endeavour'. Enthusiastic about Ernst Barlach's masterful depiction of the reading man, Bertolt Brecht described the work: 'A seated man, bent forward, holding a book in his heavy hands. He reads curiously, confidently, critically. He is clearly looking for solutions to urgent problems in the book (...) I like 'The Book Reader' better than Rodin's famous 'Thinker', which only shows the difficulty of thinking. Barlach's sculpture is more realistic, more concrete...' 'The Book Reader' is one of Ernst Barlach's best-known and most important works. Original casts in bronze can be found in the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, the Staatliches Museum Schwerin and the Stiftung Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesmuseen Schloss Gottorf, among others. The 150th birthday of the artist in 2020 was a special occasion for us to publish an anniversary edition of the 'Book Reader' in this impressive format, in an exclusive edition of 150 copies. Sculpture in fine bronze, cast using the lost wax technique, chiselled, polished and patinated by hand. Taken directly from the original and reduced in size. Limited edition of 150 copies, numbered and with the signature 'E. Barlach' as well as the foundry and ars mundi hallmark. With numbered certificate of authenticity and limitation certificate. Size approx. 41 x 19 x 29 cm (h/w/d). Weight approx. 14.4 kg. ars mundi exclusive edition.