A Set of Two Original Woodblock Prints of 1930s-1940s Tahitian Life, by Wolfgang Wolff

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On offer are a set comprised of two stunning, original woodblock prints by the German-born artist Wolfgang Wolff (1909–1994). Wolff … Read more On offer are a set comprised of two stunning, original woodblock prints by the German-born artist Wolfgang Wolff (1909–1994). Wolff was a Jewish jurisprudent and administrative law judge in Germany, and then an artist and political dissident after the Nazi rise. He sought refuge in French Polynesia, arriving in Tahiti in 1938. When World War II broke out, Tahiti's French colonial authorities classified him as an enemy alien due to his German nationality. Despite having fled Nazi persecution, Wolff was interned by the French administration on the island throughout the first half of the 1940s. During this period of confinement, his artistic materials were highly restricted. He adapted by turning to printmaking, using locally available woods to carve blocks and pressing them by hand onto fine paper, eventually settling in the United States.

LEFT PIECE: Often simply titled “Portrait of a Tahitian Woman” or “Tahiti,” this black and white woodcut (or linocut) on paper exhibits the bold gouges, directional hatching, and rich, solid black areas are characteristic of German Expressionist block-printing techniques, which Wolff masterfully applied to Polynesian subjects.

In the top left corner is the artist’s signature, a small, blocky stylized monogram "WO" carved directly into the matrix. Bottom left and marked in pencil, the handwritten text says "Wo41", which indicates the year 1941. Bottom Right, again in pencil the handwritten "Tahiti" indicates the location of execution or subject.

RIGHT PIECE: The Tahitian Dance by Wolfgang Wolff is from his famous series documenting daily life, titled “Daily Activities in Tahiti.” Some prints from this exact block sequence are also known under titles like “Tahiti, Déjeuner sur l'Herbe.” Wolff would carve the heavy black outline block, and print on think paper, and then meticulously hand-paint the vibrant gouache or watercolor fills—in this case with the beautiful greens, blues, and pinks—individually, making each strike from this edition distinct.

At the bottom right, the text reads "WO38 TAHITI". The "WO" stands for the artist’s initials and "38" represents 1938, the year the block was initially conceived and carved.
On the bottom left, marked in pencil is "Wo38", matching the carved block date.
Finally, a small design, also bottom right, appears above the word "TAHITI." This is a carved oval signet possibly an abstract fish/turtle design. This was Wolff's personal artist seal or studio monogram that he regularly integrated into his Polynesian blocks.

Signature/Maker’s Mark: WO (photos #3,6). Image dimensions: (black/white) 4.75 inches high x 3.5 inches wide; (multi-colored) 6.5 inches high x 8 inches wide. See less