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PostWar & Contemporary
3419 ANSELM KIEFER(Donaueschingen 1945 - lives and works
among others in Paris)
Die Donauquelle. 1978.
Oil, sand, burlap and mixed media over
artist‘s book.
Signed and dated on the last page: Anselm
Kiefer 1978, as well as with the stamped
number: 00021. Also titled on the front
cover: Die Donauquelle.
30.5 x 21 x 5 cm.
Provenance: Private collection Switzerland.
The present work “Die Donauquelle” by
Anselm Kiefer brings together some of his
leitmotifs, such as German history, nature,
landscapes and water, as well as his use of
a wide range of materials. The origins and
the true beginnings of the source of the
Danube have been discussed for decades.
For a long time the source of the Danube
was identified as being in the castle gar-
dens of Donaueschingen, the town where
Kiefer was born. Just as German history
has strongly influenced him and his work,
so also has the history of his home.
The subject of water is one which Kiefer
has addressed repeatedly. Mark Rosenthal
has said on this subject: „That [Kiefer]
should focus once again on water is not
surprising...These associations with birth
and death, destruction and regeneration,
establish a context for the watery setting
in which the palette arises...the birth of the
palette is...the first stage of life.“ (Ro-
senthal, Mark: Anselm Kiefer, Chicago and
Philadelphia 1987, p. 72-74).
CHF 40 000 / 60 000
(€ 37 040 / 55 560)