| Dämmernde Stadt | |
|---|---|
_by_Egon_Schiele%2c_1913.jpg) | |
| Artist | Egon Schiele |
| Year | 1913 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 90.5 cm × 90.1 cm (35 5/8 in × 35 1/2 in)[1] |
| Location | Private collection |
Dämmernde Stadt (City in Twilight) is an oil painting byEgon Schiele, atownscape ofKrumau (today: Český Krumlov), completed in 1913. It also known asDie kleine Stadt II (The small town). It was owned until 1930 by Elsa Koditschek, a Jew who survived the Holocaust hidden in Vienna. The painting was taken from her during theNazi regime. It was auctioned in 1950 at theDorotheum in Vienna, and bought by a private collector. In 2018, it was auctioned in New York in an act of voluntaryrestitution, and the proceeds were shared by the descendants of both owners.
Townscapes formed a large part of Schiele's work, who is known fornudes and self-portraits. He made them especially during his time inKrumau (today: Český Krumlov), where his mother Marie was born. The picturesque historic town (Altstadt) on both banks of the Vltava River now a UNESCO world heritage site. Schiele lived there with his muse and later partnerWally Neuzil in May to December 1910, and in May and June 1911. He had to leave because of his relationship to Wally, and due to reports about painting young nude models. He returned for short visits, then staying in guest houses.[2] He completed, signed and datedDämmernde Stadt in 1913.[1] It is also known asDie kleine Stadt II[1] andDie kleine Stadt III.[3] The painting was shown at exhibitions the same year, in Budapest in March, and at two exhibitions in Munich.[1]
Hubert Jung from Vienna boughtDämmernde Stadt in 1913 for 400kronen, possibly in connection to the Budapest exhibition,[1] together withDie kleine Stadt III for the same price.[4]Elsa Koditschek [de], a Jewish widow in Vienna, owned the painting from 1928.[1] It was taken from her during theNazi regime. She survived the Holocaust hidden in Vienna.[3][5] The painting was auctioned in 1950 at theDorotheum in Vienna, and was bought by the private art collectorViktor Fogarassy in good faith.[6]
In 2018, in a voluntary act of privaterestitution, it was auctioned bySotheby's, with the proceeds to be shared by the descendants of both owners.[6] It was first presented in London, and then auctioned in New York,[7] selling for US$24.57 million (€21.81 million) against an estimate of $18 million.[8]