Portrait in Silhouette Vignettes

Original jumbo cabinet photograph of a portrait of the great composer and conductor in silhouette vignettes by Otto Böhler. Eighteen small vignettes tightly arranged over the sheet depict Mahler conducting at the Vienna Court Opera, capturing his very animated style of conducting and his distinctive curly hair and reflective eyeglasses. Photographic reproduction as part of a series of "Dr. Otto Böhler's Schattenbilder" by R. Lechner of Vienna, and on the photographer's card. A few smudges and surface scratches, but overall in fine condition. 7.25 x 9.75 inches (18.3 x 24.8 cm).

"Böhler, who was famous for his silhouettes, depicted Mahler on the podium at the Vienna Court Opera and shows him conducting sitting down, although this did not, of course, prevent him from occasionally leaping to his feet whenever he became excited. There is no sense of a caricature in Böhler's work but a far greater degree of observation and a more subtle form of delineation. Once again, several images appear together on the same page, the technique that Böhler uses allowing the essential aspects of the conductor's movements to find even clearer expression. In two of the silhouettes, Mahler is depicted turning to the observer, and Böhler brings out to admirable effect the threatening character of Mahler's flashing, reflecting spectacles, a feature described by many other eyewitnesses." (Jens Malte Fischer, Gustav Mahler, p. 197.)

The Austrian silhouette artist Otto Böhler specialized in portraits of many great conductors, composers, and pianists of his time. Though frequently reproduced, the originals of his many silhouette portraits were rarely preserved. (14655)

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Classical Music

Unsigned Photograph

Art

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