A captivating erotic Art Deco cold painted bronze figure of a semi-clad lady with fencing sword, raised on a shaped Brazilian green onyx base, signed Bruno Zach and stamped Austria. This is a wonderful large example of the artist’s work that captures the sensuous night-life of inter-war Berlin.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Height: 38 cm
Condition: Excellent Original Condition
Circa: 1925
Materials: Cold Painted Bronze & Marble
Book Ref Art Deco & Other Figures by Bryan Catley
SKU: 4783
ABOUT
There is an obvious influence of eroticism and sensuality in Bruno Zach's sculptures such as Party Girl and there is no question that this was primarily affected by the night life of Berlin in the 1920's. After World War I cabarets became extremely popular across Europe – and nowhere were they more popular than Germany. The Weimar government’s lifting of censorship saw German cabarets accepted in mainstream entertainment. However, the loss of World War I had taught the German population that fortunes could change very quickly and there was a strong sense of over liberalisation and urgency that led to the cabaret of Berlin to be dominated by two themes: sex and politics. Stories, jokes, songs and dancing were laced with sexual innuendo. As the 1920s progressed this gave way to open displays of nudity, to the point where most German cabarets had at least some topless dancers. Prostitution was widely accepted and it became 'de rigeur' to use their services, whether one was male or female, and the Party Girl figure with its alluring charm had an undercurrent of this lascivious intent.
This was the background in which
Bruno Zach found himself when he moved to Berlin from Austria in 1920 and he immersed himself into the decadent night life with gusto. It is understood that he used many prostitutes as models for his sculptures and fell in love with a particular young lady who took great pleasure in refusing his marriage proposals.
When one considers Bruno Zach's work with an understanding of the influences that permeated his life at the time, the overt sexuality of his subject matter becomes more acceptable and indeed more interesting.
