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JOHAN COENRAAD ALTORF (1876-1955) The following group of works by the sculptor Johan Coenraad Altorf, belonged until recently to a typical The Hague Bremmer collectie from the first half of the 20th century. The former owner frequented the famous and somewhat elite artcourse by H.P. Bremmer (1871-1951), in which the latter analysed the nature of works of art by means of observations on aesthetics and its inner power of expression, according to his 'practical aesthetics'. The course was also an excellent means of selling art for gentleman-dealer Bremmer, and especially the small statues, so easy to handle as examples during his explanations, sold quite well. Altorf was one of the lucky artists who were able to profit from this very successful mechanism, together with Joseph Mendes da Costa, John Radecker and Lambertus Zijl. All important Dutch modern art collections of the first half of the 20th century contain works of their hands, of which of course the Kröller-Müller collection is the most famous. It is a telling example of Bremmers influence on the art-world in Holland. The present lots give a good impression of Altorfs acclaimed talents: his ability to emphasise the essence of the subject (preferably animals), the meticulously polished and strict designs and the variety in the choice of materials. Following Mendes symbolism, Altorf reacted against naturalistic, realistic and impressionistic traditions. In stead he was much more interested in the idea behind the form of works of art through composition and restriction, or, as Altorf authority Pier Terwen calls it, "a pursuit of an elevation of the spiritual values in plastic design". (Pier Terwen in: F. Leidelmeijer a.o., Leven in een verzameling. Toegepaste kunst 1890-1920 uit de collectie Meentwijck, Laren/Zwolle 2000, p. 169) The above implied that finishing off and touching up the sculptures was relatively time-consuming. As a result of the fact that this was traditionally carried out by employed ciseleurs or students, prices for the works could already mount up at the time. Altorf was much stricter and uncompromising in his designs than Mendes. Terwen states about this: "While in Mendes works one can always detect a certain pictorial effect in his outlining, Altorfs sculptures seem to be constructed of a jigsaw puzzle of tightly joint parts, that have been shifted together." (op.cit. Terwen 2000, p. 169). And concerning Altorfs varied choice of materials he says: "Every project was completed with the utmost care and precision into a new and stylised form. Altorf always knew how to choose and to apply the right materials, whether it was bronze, stone, wood, ivory or ceramics. Somehow his materials perfectly adapted the subject. This approach strongly reminds us of the conceptions of the British Arts and Crafts movement, in which an artist was expected to master every discipline of art". (Pier Terwen, 'Het ceramische werk van J.C. Altorf en de samenwerking met Chris Lanooij' in: Vormen uit vuur, Vol. II (1998), p. 3-4). Altorfs collaboration with the ceramic industry, like Haga and De Porceleyne Fles, naturally forced him to experiment with different materials as well. The strict stylising should as a matter of fact not be seen as an equivalent of simplification. Bremmer himself stated about this already in 1916: "For him [Altorf red.], reality is the natural point of departure, as it is with every artist, but imitation just like that is of no use for him, imitation is something that will only satisfy common people. [...] Stylising is transforming things into their basic forms; we are thus looking at works of a strongly stylised character. Whether one agrees with the conceptions of such a style or not, does not alter the definition at all."(cited in Terwen 1998, p. 4)

Johan Coenraad Altorf (1876-1955)

Ara

Details

Johan Coenraad Altorf (1876-1955)
Ara
signed with monogram and dated '40' (on the base)
wood
66 cm. high (incl. base)
Executed in 1940, this piece is unique.

Special notice

Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at 23.205% of the hammer price for each lot with a value up to €110,000. If the hammer price of a lot exceeds €110,000 then the premium for the lot is calculated at 23.205% of the first €110,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of €110,000. Buyer's Premium is calculated on this basis for each lot individually.

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