14 October 2020

Comics pioneer Wilhelm Busch's famous but considered lost self-portrait comes into auction at Dorotheum Vienna

The self-portrait of Wilhelm Busch survived in art historical literature through reproductions. Now, the original drawing from 1894 with an estimated value of 12,000 to 16,000 Euros will be auctioned on 20 October at the 'Master Drawings' auction at Dorotheum Vienna.

Image: Self-portrait with hat, Wilhelm Busch (lived from 1832 until 1908), monogrammed and dated W. B. (18)94 s.i.f, pen and brown ink on paper, 15,2 x 10,4 cm. Starting bid: € 12.000; the bids and closer information about the portrait and Wilhelm Busch are published at dorotheum.com/en/l/6894751/; auction on 20 October 2020 at Dorotheum in Vienna, Austria. Photographer: © Dorotheum.

The German humorist, poet, painter, illustrator of picture stories like 'Max & Moritz' is a pioneer of comics and delivered at his time controversial stories about society's morality. The discussions about his oeuvre have never ended. Critical voices concerning the brutality of the stories or the creation of stereotypes out of prejudices make Wilhelm Busch's work until nowadays an educational source for the strong influence of societal circumstances on entertainment media.

The tales of Max & Moritz inspired a ballet and stage productions such as the Viennese Theater Rabenhof for an interpretation in anarchic style.