1982 Joe Pecsenke Wagner Opera Lithograph Flying Dutchman

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Joseph A. Pecsenke (1942 – 1989) "The Flying Dutchman" lithograph on paper, pencil signed and numbered 55 of 150. Richard … Read more Joseph A. Pecsenke (1942 – 1989) "The Flying Dutchman" lithograph on paper, pencil signed and numbered 55 of 150. Richard Wagner (1813-1883) wrote "The Flying Dutchman" in 1843.

After graduating from the Budapest Academy of Fine Arts, Pecsenke worked as an illustrator in Hungary before moving to New York in 1971. Eventually he moved to Sweden, where he stayed for the rest of his life.
Pecsenke was profoundly involved in the theater world. In addition to his work as an actor and set designer, Pecsenke directed opera performances all over the world. It was his work in the theater that inspired his series Commedia dell’Arte and Opera Suite, both of which are included in this exhibition.

His Opera Suite, comprised of a series of lithographs illustrating a variety of operas, includes scenes from Otello, Madame Butterfly, Faust, and La Boheme. Pecsenke’s colorful renderings portray actors mid-scene, often clad in ornate costumes and masks, in front of elaborate stage sets, capturing a moment of a dramatic performance.

Pecsenke’s artwork has been exhibited all over the world, and is currently in the collections of the Metropolitan Opera, the Joffrey Ballet, the Folger Shakespeare Library, the New York Philharmonic, the Reading Public Museum and Yale University. See less