Kurt Schwitters (1887-1948) German
Landscape
Initialled, oil on board, 25cm by 30cm

Provenance: Wantee Thomas
Thence by descent
Listed in the artist's catalogue raisonné.

Exhibited: "Kurt Schwitters 2.1.82- 28.2.82", Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal

Kurt Schwitters (1887-1948) was one of the most influential European avant-garde artists of the twentieth century. Associated with Dada, De Stijl and Constructivism, he produced a wide plethora of work including paintings, collages, sound pieces, found object sculptures and installation works, along with journalism, criticism, poetry and short stories, resulting in an incredibly diverse oeuvre.

Forced to flee Germany in 1937, Schwitters was interned as an enemy alien in 1940 on the Isle of Man. After being held with over 1000 other prisoners for over 15 months, Schwitters was finally released in December 1941, upon which he travelled to London where he met Edith "Wantee" Thomas when they both had rooms in the same lodging house. At the conclusion of WWII, the couple then went together to live in the Lake District, where Schwitters lived and worked until the end of his life. (Also see lot 600)