ARNOST HOFBAUER (1869-1944) II. VYSTAVA SPOLKU "MANES" / TOPICUV SALON. 1898.
42 3/4x30 inches, 108 1/2x76 1/4 cm. V. Neubert, Praha-Smichov.
Condition A-: minor creases and restoration in margins; tipped at corners to mount. Framed.
The influence of Japanese woodblock prints on this poster is extremely evident. "The poster presents Manes in the form of a ship on a stormy sea [their initials are on the ship], with a man throwing a rescue rope to a young man (an artist) 'so that he doesn't drown in the maelstrom of the trivial.' The wave is a clear allusion to the famous woodblock print by Hokusai in 1830" (Vital Art Nouveau p. 66), and is a cornerstone of the Czech Successionist movement. Rare. We could find only one other copy at auction in the last 20 years. Mascha 139, Czech Posters p. 15, Secession 5 (var), Prazsky Chodec p. 30, Cesky Plakat p. 43, Weill 200, Prague 1900 p. 122.