Lot 382 Dα

Following performances in Zurich, the dancer Nina Hard visited Ernst Ludwig Kirchner at "Haus in den Lärchen" near Frauenkirch in the summer of 1921. One of the highlights of her stay was a dance performance in the hay loft of the upper floor in front of paintings by the painter. Kirchner took the opportunity to take photographs and converted his impressions of Hard's expressive seduction into the lithograph "Die Nackttänzerin" (Dube L 413). Further photographs, drawings, and watercolours document the encounter. Like our large-format watercolour, they show Nina Hard together with Kirchner's partner Erna Schilling, whom the artist here formulates directly with paint and without any preparatory pencil drawing. Just like Kirchner, Erna Schilling was also an enthusiastic archer. The depiction of the sports equipment on the right-hand side of the picture testifies to this passion.