"Die zwischen Zeit und Ewigkeit unsicher flatternde Seele" [The soul insecurely shimmying between Time and Eternity] by Hans Thoma, illustrated by the author, published by Eugen Diederichs Verlag, Jena, Thuringia, 1919. Early printing of the first edition ['thirteenth through seventeenth thousand' is stated in German on the last page] This popular in Germany book went through the several printings until the early 1920s.

Soft cover, [a little wear: see photos], 5 3/4" x 8.1/4"; 47 pages, very good condition.

"Based on his Christian believes, Thoma presents his thoughts on the source of the horrible war [wwi], and the post-war misery in Germany. In his opinion, the Western Civilization is going in the wrong direction departing from the moral values such as trust, empathy, tolerance and harmonious living with each other and the nature. The individual mistrust and the mistrust of nations to each other lead to a disaster. The mistrust is a result of the disappearance of moral values based on religious beliefs. As the result of the mistrust, controlling and conquering became the leading factors in human behavior. The way out of increasing misery would be to return to morality, and to start teaching moral values to children." ['Summary' from a review]

Hans Thoma (1839-1924), German artist. His work is exhibited widely in all important German museums and galleries. Hans Thoma was born in Bernau in the Black Forest and his landscape paintings and graphic works were influenced by the scenery of his homeland. After early studies in Karlsruhe and Dusseldorf he went to Paris in 1868 to study under Courbet who was a major influence on him. In 1874 he visited Italy and from 1899 was Director of the Karlsruhe Academy. He developed a highly individual style, not being influenced by the major schools of his time. After his meeting with Arnold Boecklin in Munich in 1871, Thoma's style transitioned from realism towards a more symbolic interpretation of nature. Thoma's Symbolist works are often suffused with his religious and spiritual view of nature and humanity. 'I was familiar with the Bible, and Nature often spoke to me as if in the words of a Psalm', he once commented (see: H.E. Busse, "Hans Thoma, Sein Leben in Selbstzeugnissen, Briefen und Berichten" Berlin 1942, p.33).

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World: 1st Class (c.2-8 weeks) ------ $35.50