Die lesenden Mönche I (Unterweisung). 1921.
Bronze with golden brown patina.
Inscribed with the name "E. Barlach" and with the foundry mark "H. Noack Berlin" on the left side. From an edition of 20 unnumbered copies. 15 x 13.5 x 8 cm (5.9 x 5.3 x 3.1 in).
Modeled on the clay sculpture of the same name from 1921, which is in the Ernst Barlach Foundation, Güstrow. Cast by the art foundry Hermann Noack, Berlin. [AR].

• One of the rare pairs of figures in Ernst Barlach's oeuvre, created at the same time as this famous "Kissing Group".
• Immersed in intimate togetherness, the monks are a wonderful example of the artist's block-like, self-contained formal language.
• Ernst Barlach's artistic language is unique among sculptors of German Expressionism and continues to fascinate us today with its vivid clarity of expression.

PROVENANCE: Private collection, Northern Germany.

LITERATURE: Elisabeth Laur, Volker Probst (eds.), Ernst Barlach. Das plastische Werk, catalogue raisonné II, Güstrow 2006, no. 318 (illustrated, different copy).
Friedrich Schult, Ernst Barlach. Das plastische Werk, Hamburg 1960, no. 247 ( illustrated in b/w, different copy).