Paul Herrmann (Munich 1864 - 1946 Berlin-Schöneberg), here under the pseudonym Henri Héran
"Spielendes Meerweib"
["Playful Mermaid," also known as "Playing Mermaid" and as "Playing Siren"]
1897
color woodcut and lithograph in four colors on laid paper
image 29,2 x 20,4 cm (11.5 x 8 in.); the stone is blue, and the blocks are colored yellow, red and light blue, respectively.
monogrammed "PH" in the stone lower left outside the image and typographical inscribed at the lower edge
excellent impression of the sheet printed from four color plates with margins; bottom and left with deckle edge
condition: slightly light-stained in the passe-partout opening; a tiny pinhole each at the top and bottom; otherwise in very good condition.
catalogue raisonné: Singer 19
Hans W. Singer, Das Graphische Werk des Maler-Radierers Paul Herrmann (Henri Heran) (Munich: F. Bruckmann, 1914), pg. 30, cat. no. 19.
The sheet was published in 1897 as a supplement to the 4th issue of the 3rd volume of the art periodical Pan between pages 252 and 253 and was printed for this purpose in an edition of 1200 copies.
Provenance of this impression:
From the estate of the writer Paul Heyse (1830-1914), Paul Herrmann's uncle, with whom Herrmann grew up and lived until 1883.
Discussion:
Paul Herrmann was a friend of Edvard Munch; and it is generally believed that Herrmann introduced Munch to the woodcut techniques, in particular experimental techniques like those used in "Spielendes Meerweib" (namely, combining color lithography with multi-block colored woodcut).
