This is a fine 1920s woodcut by the German artist and printmaker Martin Erich Phlilpp (1887 - 1978). He excelled at these colour woodcuts showing groupings of exotic birds.
Not much is known about his life - he was born at Zwickau in Germany and from 1904 - 1907 attended the Arts and Crafts School in Dresden fostering dreams of becoming a sculptor. He changed his artistic direction when he developed an interest in printmaking. He subsequently took up a course in woodcut and intaglio printing at the Kunstakademie - where he studied from 1908 - 1913.
Just after graduating, he was awarded a prestigious gold medal at the Leipzig Book and Graphics Exhibition for one of his colour woodcuts - and this led to him receiving a whole host of commissions for his prints and illustrations.
He was based in Dresden for the rest of his life. His fine prints of exotic birds are highly decorative and sought-after works. They are a bit harder to find in the UK than in Germany. My price for this work is a fair one. Indeed, it comes from my own personal collection - having hung in my bedroom for the last 20 years, and it will be a sad parting for me!
It is certainly an attractive study of three Pied Crows (Corvus albus). They are shown perched on a branch of a willow tree. They are stunning birds with black heads which contrasts with the white colouring on their breasts. Their throat feathers are slightly longer and wispier. Their wings and tails are dark but with more of a blue-purple gloss to the feathers as shown in this lovely woodcut by Philipp. This print is often mistitled "Blue Ravens" - but these ravens are very different birds to the ones depicted by Philipp here.
The print has the artist's monogram printed in the lower right-hand corner: MEPH It is also signed in pencil, lower right, as photographed. The image is printed on thin Japanese paper and is in good condition with no tears or brown spotting etc. The paper is loose and the print has not been stuck down with glue onto an old backing board.
Dimensions: Image size is 39 x 25.5 cm. The frame is 57 x 42 cm. The frame is a nice original oak wood one in good condition.
It is sold framed with a new fresh window mount - so it is beautifully presented and ready to hang on your wall.
It will be sent to you in the UK with Parcelforce48 and this will cost £10 and applied to your order at the checkout.