Ernst Barlach: Sculpture 'The Herb Picker' (1894), reduction in bronze

Ernst Barlach's masterpiece There is no doubt that Ernst Barlach was one of the most outstanding personalities of Expressionism and one of the most important artists from Germany. He always placed people at the centre of his artistic work, as in his 'Krautpflückerin', a simple woman working in the fields, bending down to pick meadow plants. This sculpture, created in 1894, was Barlach's masterpiece: it was part of the final examination of his studies at the Dresden Academy of Art in 1895; at the same time, he exhibited it as his first work at the Great Berlin Art Exhibition in 1898. Sculpture 'Die Krautpflückerin': Original: coloured plaster. Fine bronze, cast by hand using the lost wax technique and patinated. Directly moulded from the original and reduced in size (reduction). Limited edition of 980 copies, individually numbered and with the signature 'E. Barlach' and the foundry mark. ars mundi exclusive edition, published in collaboration with the Ernst Barlach Gesellschaft. With numbered certificate of authenticity and limitation. Format 21 x 22.5 x 14 cm (W/H/D), weight 2.5 kg. 'I am always fascinated by Ernst Barlach's 'Krautpflückerin'. With this work, the sculptor took a new look at people's everyday lives and thus not only gave sculpture in Germany a new impetus, but also a new meaning. With this work, he began to bring the common people, the so-called people of the street, back into the real visual field of vision of art. (Dr Jürgen Doppelstein, Chairman of the Ernst Barlach Society)