Portrait of Willy Burmester, circa 1910s
Gelatin silver print postcard, signed “Willy Burmester” in ink (lower margin)
Published by Kunstverlag Ludwig Gassers, Hamburg 30
Dimensions: 3 3/8 × 5 1/2 in. (8.6 × 13.9 cm)
Description:
A vintage gelatin silver photographic postcard depicting the renowned German violin virtuoso and composer Willy Burmester, portrayed in formal attire with his violin under his arm and adorned with multiple royal decorations. The print bears his bold autograph across the lower margin and was issued in Hamburg by the noted publisher Ludwig Gassers, after a portrait by the royal court photographer E. Bieber.
Analysis:
This finely printed portrait exemplifies early 20th-century European studio photography, blending aristocratic grandeur with artistic distinction. Burmester, celebrated for his fiery performances and association with the works of Paganini, is here immortalized with the visual authority of a nobleman-artist, reflecting both musical mastery and social prestige. The silver gelatin surface retains excellent tonal depth, with crisp highlights and a soft diffused background typical of E. Bieber’s refined portraiture. Signed examples of this period, particularly in such preserved condition, are rare and highly desirable among collectors of historical musician memorabilia and pre-war European photography.

Condition:
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