Georg Jahn, Portrait of a Woman in a Mystical Garden - Antique Etching

1900 - 1920

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

This exquisite early 20th-century etching by German artist Georg Jahn (1869-1940) depicts a young woman standing before a mystical garden. She dominates the frame with her bold androgynous figure creating a pillar of strength.

Jahn was nothing short of a genius. His near-photographic etchings weave a rich narrative for the viewer to untangle. They’re deep with emotion yet carry a sense of finesse reminiscent of the Old Masters. His approach has been referred to as ‘lyrical realism’ which seems to sum it up. On one hand, there’s pinpoint execution and extraordinary detail, while on the other, there’s a story.

His works are engaging as they leave gaps for the viewer to interpret. Examine this piece closely, how do you read it? Is this an alternative version of the Garden of Eden? Or is she Mother Nature? Could this be a commentary on female strength and sensuality? Her stature is remarkable and there’s a timeless quality to the piece. It reminds us, in some respects, of the 15th-century painter Hans Memling, yet it could also be hung with contemporary works.

Expression in art is often witnessed through artistic handling such as bold expressive brushwork. But here, we see an artist imbuing a piece with emotion through precise lines. But of course, as Jahn would’ve known, true feeling doesn’t arrive through the artist’s tools - it’s derived from us.

Georg Jahn trained at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts and the Grand-Ducal Saxon Art School in Weimar.

He’s represented in various public collections including in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, and Vienna.

Signed in pencil, framed and glazed.

Learn more about Georg Jahn in our directory.

Medium: Etching on paper

Overall size: 22” x 21” / 57cm x 54cm

Year of creation: 1902

Condition: Artwork presents well.

Artist’s auction highlight: £2,294 achieved for an etching in 2018.

Physical Dimensions

Height

54cm (21.26")

Width

57cm (22.44")

Depth

2cm (0.79")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1900s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA946048

Description

Jahn was nothing short of a genius. His near-photographic etchings weave a rich narrative for the viewer to untangle. They’re deep with emotion yet carry a sense of finesse reminiscent of the Old Masters. His approach has been referred to as ‘lyrical realism’ which seems to sum it up.

“

On one hand, there’s pinpoint execution and extraordinary detail, while on the other, there’s a story.

Brave Fine Art

fig 1. Georg Jahn, Portrait Of A Woman In A Mystical Garden - Antique Etching — fig 1. Georg Jahn, Portrait of a Woman in a Mystical Garden - Antique Etching

His works are engaging as they leave gaps for the viewer to interpret. Examine this piece closely, how do you read it? Is this an alternative version of the Garden of Eden? Or is she Mother Nature? Could this be a commentary on female strength and sensuality? Her stature is remarkable and there’s a timeless quality to the piece. It reminds us, in some respects, of the 15th-century painter Hans Memling, yet it could also be hung with contemporary works.

fig 2. Georg Jahn, Portrait Of A Woman In A Mystical Garden - Antique Etching — fig 2. Georg Jahn, Portrait of a Woman in a Mystical Garden - Antique Etching

Expression in art is often witnessed through artistic handling such as bold expressive brushwork. But here, we see an artist imbuing a piece with emotion through precise lines. But of course, as Jahn would’ve known, true feeling doesn’t arrive through the artist’s tools - it’s derived from us.