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Learn MoreSixteen Ducks in the Evening by Alexander Koester
- This is a masterpiece by Alexander Koester, Germany's premier painter of ducks and water scenes
- It exemplifies Koester’s technique with confident brushstrokes that capture the effects of light
- The Post-Impressionist composition of sixteen ducks ranks among the artist's most ambitious works
- The work showcases the artist’s unparalleled understanding of avian behavior and form
- Get complete item description here
$358,500
Item No.
32-0987
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Description
Alexander Koester
1864-1932 | German
Sixteen Ducks in the Evening (Sechzehn Enten in Abendstimmung)
Signed "A KOESTER" (lower left)
Oil on canvas
Epitomizing the mastery of Germany's preeminent animal painter, Sixteen Ducks in the Evening (Sechzehn Enten in Abendstimmung) showcases Alexander Koester's virtuosic ability to capture both the animated spirit of his avian subjects and the atmospheric play of light upon water. This monumental composition stands as one of the artist's largest. . .
1864-1932 | German
Sixteen Ducks in the Evening (Sechzehn Enten in Abendstimmung)
Signed "A KOESTER" (lower left)
Oil on canvas
Epitomizing the mastery of Germany's preeminent animal painter, Sixteen Ducks in the Evening (Sechzehn Enten in Abendstimmung) showcases Alexander Koester's virtuosic ability to capture both the animated spirit of his avian subjects and the atmospheric play of light upon water. This monumental composition stands as one of the artist's largest. . .
Read More
Alexander Koester
1864-1932 | German
Sixteen Ducks in the Evening (Sechzehn Enten in Abendstimmung)
Signed "A KOESTER" (lower left)
Oil on canvas
Epitomizing the mastery of Germany's preeminent animal painter, Sixteen Ducks in the Evening (Sechzehn Enten in Abendstimmung) showcases Alexander Koester's virtuosic ability to capture both the animated spirit of his avian subjects and the atmospheric play of light upon water. This monumental composition stands as one of the artist's largest and most complex works ever created, featuring an unprecedented sixteen ducks in a single scene. The ambitious scale demonstrates Koester's characteristic impressionistic brushwork and remarkable command of color that earned him international acclaim and the nickname "Duck-Koester."
The painting presents a dynamic scene of sixteen ducks and drakes congregating in shimmering waters, their bodies creating ripples that catch the fading light of day. Koester's technical brilliance is evident in his treatment of the water's surface, where free, confident brushstrokes convey both reflection and movement. The artist employs a sophisticated palette dominated by rich browns and blues in the water, contrasted against the luminous white plumage of the ducks, heightened by touches of emerald and auburn. This juxtaposition creates a visual rhythm across the canvas that draws the viewer into the composition.
Alexander Koester initially trained as a pharmacist before pursuing his artistic calling at the Karlsruhe Art Academy under masters Carl Hoff and Claus Meyer. His career underwent a transformative shift in 1896 when he settled in Klausen, South Tyrol, where he developed his lifelong fascination with ducks. This specialization brought him extraordinary success during his lifetime, including gold medals at the Große Berliner Kunstausstellung in 1902 and the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. One of his duck paintings was even acquired by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1900. Koester's unique approach merged traditional animal painting with impressionist techniques, focusing particularly on capturing ephemeral light effects on water and plumage. Though he later expanded his repertoire to include landscapes and floral still lifes after relocating to Dießen am Ammersee in 1915, ducks remained his signature subject throughout his career. Today, his works are held in prestigious collections, including the Neue Pinakothek in Munich.
Painted circa 1900
Canvas: 29 7/8" high x 54 1/2" wide (75.88 × 138.43 cm)
Frame: 42 1/4" high x 67 3/8" wide x 2 1/2" deep (107.32 × 171.13 x 6.35 cm)
Provenance:
European private collection
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
1864-1932 | German
Sixteen Ducks in the Evening (Sechzehn Enten in Abendstimmung)
Signed "A KOESTER" (lower left)
Oil on canvas
Epitomizing the mastery of Germany's preeminent animal painter, Sixteen Ducks in the Evening (Sechzehn Enten in Abendstimmung) showcases Alexander Koester's virtuosic ability to capture both the animated spirit of his avian subjects and the atmospheric play of light upon water. This monumental composition stands as one of the artist's largest and most complex works ever created, featuring an unprecedented sixteen ducks in a single scene. The ambitious scale demonstrates Koester's characteristic impressionistic brushwork and remarkable command of color that earned him international acclaim and the nickname "Duck-Koester."
The painting presents a dynamic scene of sixteen ducks and drakes congregating in shimmering waters, their bodies creating ripples that catch the fading light of day. Koester's technical brilliance is evident in his treatment of the water's surface, where free, confident brushstrokes convey both reflection and movement. The artist employs a sophisticated palette dominated by rich browns and blues in the water, contrasted against the luminous white plumage of the ducks, heightened by touches of emerald and auburn. This juxtaposition creates a visual rhythm across the canvas that draws the viewer into the composition.
Alexander Koester initially trained as a pharmacist before pursuing his artistic calling at the Karlsruhe Art Academy under masters Carl Hoff and Claus Meyer. His career underwent a transformative shift in 1896 when he settled in Klausen, South Tyrol, where he developed his lifelong fascination with ducks. This specialization brought him extraordinary success during his lifetime, including gold medals at the Große Berliner Kunstausstellung in 1902 and the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. One of his duck paintings was even acquired by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1900. Koester's unique approach merged traditional animal painting with impressionist techniques, focusing particularly on capturing ephemeral light effects on water and plumage. Though he later expanded his repertoire to include landscapes and floral still lifes after relocating to Dießen am Ammersee in 1915, ducks remained his signature subject throughout his career. Today, his works are held in prestigious collections, including the Neue Pinakothek in Munich.
Painted circa 1900
Canvas: 29 7/8" high x 54 1/2" wide (75.88 × 138.43 cm)
Frame: 42 1/4" high x 67 3/8" wide x 2 1/2" deep (107.32 × 171.13 x 6.35 cm)
Provenance:
European private collection
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Read Less
Specifications
| Maker: | Koester, Alexander |
| Period: | 1816-1918 |
| Origin: | Germany |
| Type: | Paintings |
| Style: | Post-Impressionism |
| Depth: | 2.5 in. (6.35 cm) |
| Width: | 67.38 in. (171.13 cm) |
| Height: | 42.25 in. (107.32 cm) |
| Canvas Width: | 54.500 in. (138.43 cm) |
| Canvas Height: | 29.875 in. (75.88 cm) |
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Buy with Confidence
At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
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