Fishes by Johnny Friedlaender

This is an abstract etching and aquatint by French modernist Johnny Friedlaender. In the 1950s and 60s Friedlaender did several pieces featuring fishes, but in general the images are not representational in any sense. This work, dating from 1963, is typical of his treatment of the subject. While the outline of a fish is clearly evident in the center of the piece, it is positioned in a non-realistic manner. It is a very simplistic rendering of the fish and the background has a very abstract appearance with no recognizable points of reference. There are some inverted triangles that might indicate scales, but they are haphazardly applied giving the whole piece a somewhat surreal appearance. An interesting work that is quite representative of this period. This etching predates a more famous series of fishes rendered in full color dating from 1965,
The image is in excellent condition. It is well-stuck and richly inked. It is signed in pencil lower right Friedlaender. No edition is given, but this is how it was issued. It is in good to very good condition. The only issue noted is some faint toning of the image. Otherwise there are no other condition issues including no paper loss, tears, stains, foxing, or fading. A fine example of the artist's early work.
Johnny Friedlaender (1912-1992) was born in Germany and did his studies in Breslau with Otto Mueller. Prior to WWII he exhibited extensively throughout Europe including a very successful exhibit in The Hague. He moved to France in 1937 to escape Nazi persecution, but ultimately spent 4 years in concentration camps before being liberated in 1944. He ultimately became a French citizen. Friedlaender is credited with taking the medium of aquatint etching to new heights. He effectively used this technique to create his abstract visions. They are characterized by striking colors and dramatic designs. He ultimately exhibited all over the world. In 1957 he was the recipient of the Biennial Kakamura Prize in Tokyo and the Lovis Corinth prize in 1981. He became an influential teacher accepting a teaching post awarded by UNESCO at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro and ultimately teaching out of his studio in Paris. A major retrospective of his work was held at the Musee dArt Moderne de la Ville de Paris in 1978. In 1987 the Kunsthalle Bremen mounted a retrospective of his work on the occasion of his seventy-fifth birthday. In 1992 Johnny Friedlaender died in Paris, where he had spent most of his adult life. His work is held by major museums around the world.