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Oil on hardboard Germany, Berlin, 1956 Walter Wellenstein (1898-1972) - Berlin painter and illustrator Signed and dated lower right 'Wellenstein 56' Verso inscribed 'Walter Wellenstein Berlin 1956 / Prima Ballerina / 65 x 52' Overall dimensions, framed: 77 x 64 cm; dimensions of hardboard: 65 x 52.5 cm Good condition Provenance: German private collection Artists, clowns and dancers are typical motifs in Wellenstein's oeuvre; his paintings fetch up to 3,000 euros at international auctions This oil painting titled 'Prima Ballerina' by the Berlin artist Walter Wellenstein (1898-1972) dates to 1956. A typical example of Wellenstein's work of the 50s, this colourful painting depicts a stage-like scenery. The center shows the contours of a transparently dressed ballet dancer. The background and the spatial structure surrounding the moving dancer are presented in the same reduced manner, in which the highlighted prima ballerina is captured. Dynamic shapes - sometimes flat, sometimes linear and angular - make it impossible to identify the room. The composition, defined by dissolved perspectives and coherences, is reminiscent of the cubist canon of forms. The painting is signed and dated lower right 'Wellenstein 56'. The back is inscribed 'Walter Wellenstein Berlin 1956 / Prima Ballerina / 65 x 52'. The condition of the painting is good with only minimal signs of wear, small colour abrasions and stains. The partially silver coloured wood frame is slightly chipped in places. The overall dimensions, framed, are 77 x 64 cm. The dimensions of the hardboard are 65 x 52.5 cm. Walter Wellenstein (1898-1972) From 1918 to 1924 Walter Wellenstein studied under Emil Orlik at the art school in Berlin. His early work is characterised by travel memories and city views. In the 1930s, he developed a fondness for depictions of masks, as well as artistic and bizzare characters. Many of his works show traits of the grotesque - Wellenstein's artistic means to overcome the instability of the time. In the 1950s, Wellenstein was inspired by theatre rehearsals and created stage-like sceneries in paintings with emphasised countours. These paintings often show influences of works by Karl Hofer, Max Beckmann, James Ensor, and Alfred Kubin. Wellenstein also worked as a draftsman and illustrator. His illustrations show a penchant for satirical and caricaturist elements. Due to his publications in the Simplicissimus or the Insulaner, he became known to a wide audience. His illustrations accompanying the complete works of E.T.A Hoffmann, the stories of the Brothers Grimm and the books of Russian writers such as Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky have further contributed to his success.