Lot 517

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Description:


An incredibly rare grouping of three original watercolor paintings from Dachau concentration camp inmate ALBERT HEINZE, Block 20/4, born 1894 in Berlin, arrived Dachau Aug. 6, 1942) painted during his imprisonment and presented to one of his American liberators. One painting bears the penciled title 'Frühling im Elsass' ('Spring in Alsace'), measuring 5.5 x 8.25 in. (sight), while another bears the penciled title 'Miltenberg am Main', measuring 5.5 x 8.25 in. (sight), likely each sketched from Heinze's memory of his life before his captivity. These works both bear Heinze's signature at bottom-left, with the year '[19]45' and a pencil inscription 'Dachau'. The third unfinished artwork, measuring 10.25 x 13.25 in., lacks a title and signature, yet shows a prisoner's perspective of the surrounding areas of Dachau, showing a nearby town in the distance, intersected by three rows of barbed wire fencing. Each retains incredibly vivid colors, and has been matted and framed to an approximate overall size of 12.75 x 15.5 in. The unfinished painting bears some creases, else fine to very fine condition. SOLD WITH: a grateful A.L.S. in German from Heinze to 'the first American officer and [American] commander of our concentration camp', 1p. 8vo., Apr. 29, 1945 (the very day the main camp was liberated), presenting the paintings as 'a small token of our heartfelt thanks, for our lucky liberation by you and your troops...' Heinz signs in full at the conclusion, adding 'former political prisoner'. Mounted and framed, with the reverse of the frame being signed by SIMON WIESENTHAL (1908-2005), Jewish Austrian Holocaust survivor, Nazi hunter, and writer. These items are accompanied by the original letter of provenance from the recipient of the artworks, Captain Henry P. Rost, Company E, 232 Infantry Division, who aided in the liberation of the camp. Rost notes in his letter: 'I personally inspected the main administrative headquarters…On the following day, during liberation ceremonies, was presented to me, the seal of the camp and three watercolors, and a letter of appreciation, by Albert Heinze, a political prisoner...' (The seal is being offered in a separate lot in this sale). The letter of provenance is dated June 10, 1975, mentions the items' sale to an individual, and bears the signatures of Rost, the buyer, and a notary at bottom-right. The lot also includes a second copy of the letter of authenticity, along with a 3.5 x 5.5 in. signed portrait of Wiesenthal, and two relevant photographs of Wiesenthal, one showing the Nazi hunter with a previous owner of this lot and another holding up the aforementioned letter. An important and evocative grouping of Dachau prisoner art, with ironclad provenance.

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October 28, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000