Rescue (plate four from Paraphrase on the Finding of a Glove)

Art Historical Context

In 1881, German Symbolist artist Max K created *Rescue*, plate four from his groundbreaking series *Paraphrase the Finding of a Gl*. This etched narrative cycle, printed with assistance from F. Felsing weaves a dreamlike tale sparked by the discovery of a lost glove, blending eroticism, fantasy, and the uncanny. As a pivotal work in Klinger's oeuvre, it exemplifies his shift toward Symbolism, influencing later artists like Edvard Munch and the Vienna Secession. Crafted in etching, drypoint, and aquatint on chine collé—a delicate technique gluing thin Chinese paper to a sturdy support for finer detail—this first-edition impression is state four of seven. These progressive states reveal Klinger's meticulous refinements, layering crisp etched lines, velvety drypoint burrs, and tonal aquatint washes to evoke mood and depth. The 18 5/16 x 26 in. composition likely dramatizes a nautical rescue amid boats, heightening the series' themes of peril and salvation. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2009, this print showcases late 19th-century innovation in intaglio printmaking, inviting viewers into Klinger's psychological realm where everyday objects unleash the surreal.

About the Artist

F. Felsing|Max Klinger (German|German) · |1857 – |1920

|German, Leipzig 1857–1920 Großjena