Martin Bloch (German, 1883-1954)
Val Di Sogno
signed 'MARTIN Bloch' (lower left); further signed, titled, dated and inscribed 'MARTIN Bloch Münchenerstr 29/'VAL DI SOGNO'' (on stretcher bar)
oil and charcoal on paper, laid on canvas
71.5 x 91cm (28 1/8 x 35 13/16in).
Footnotes:
For the six years between 1924 and 1930 Bloch's oeuvre is totally dominated by scenes of Lake Garda, the present lot depicting a northern view of the lake from Val di Sogno. Almost all of the thirty paintings and numerous drawings produced in those years, are of scenes from along the shores of the lake, or from nearby locations in northern Italy.

Often beginning the paintings in Italy with drawings from life, Bloch likely completed them later in his Berlin studio. This method of transitioning the drawn image of a motif taken directly from life onto canvas and the long process of working on the image with oil paint, often led to a discovery of deeper layers of meaning to the finished paintings.

The Bloch family's Italian summers were a happy and carefree time in their lives, which can be seen in the life and energy of the paintings from this period. His lasting fascination with the ever-changing light and colour of the lake's surface, and the towering mountains rising steeply on the opposite shore, provided an abundance of inspiration for Bloch.

We are grateful to Peter Rossiter for his assistance in cataloguing this lot.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: AR
AR Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium.