# 36461

SOLD! Wilhelm Geissler (1848-1928) "Christmas Carp Market on Spree Quay in Berlin", oil on panel, 1884

Price:  EUR

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SOLD!

Till today only known through xylographic illustration in 1887 - issue of German Magazine "Gartenlaube" (see our image nr.14; actually this xylograph was made after a drawing of Wilhelm Geissler; whether it was a preparatory drawing to our painting, or made later (one can see inessential difference) remains a question. We are in possession of this xylograph which will be sold together with the painting discussed here - see image nr. 1-12).

So here we see a winter morning in Berlin short before Christmas (or respectively Sylvester) of 1883/84 (see date 1884 in artist's signature). The scene takes place on the Spree Quay, not far from no more existing bridge "Alsenbrücke" (see our image nr.15 with corresponding article from Wikipedia).
The Christmas carp is in Central and East Europe one of the traditional courts for the Christmas Eve. This tradition dates back to the Mid Ages and originated when the Advent season was committed as a Lent according to the Christian apprenticeship. The Christmas Eve as a climax of the Advent and eve before Christmas Day should be celebrated particularly and a special fasting court should do justice to it.
An old custom is to keep one of the scales of the carp and carry it with oneself, so that it brings monetary blessing in the new year. This custom probably arises from the form of the carp scale which is similar to a coin. In the Mid Ages the carp (as well as the pike) was emphasized especially religiously and, therefore, consumed at Christmas with pleasure.

Berlin Street scenes were a specialty of the author of this painting, the well-known Berlin artist Wilhelm Geissler (for examples see our images nr.16-17.

Wilhelm (Willy) Geissler was born on 12 July 1848 in Hanover and died in Berlin on 4 April 1928. He was son and pupil of Goettingen artist Robert Geissler (1819-1893). In 1874-1876 he studied under Otto Knille at the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts. From 1879 he was a member of the Society of Berlin Artists; from 1883 he also worked as a drawing teacher. In his early period he was active especially as an illustrator (like his father), later (in second half of 1880s) he began with plein-air painting with scenes from Berlin streets.
Works of Wilhelm Geissler belong to collections of various German and international museums.
Our image nr. 18 shows his watercolor in collection of the Metropolitan Museum , New York.

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Condition: good

Creation Year: 1884

Measurements: UNFRAMED:28,3x42,2cm/11,1x16,6in FRAMED: 43,9x57,9cm/17,3x22,8in

Object Type: Framed painting

Style: La Belle Epoche

Technique: Oil on panel

Inscription: signed and dated: Wilh. Geissler/1884

Creator: Wilhelm Geissler

Creator Dates: 1848 Hanover-1928 Berlin

Nationality: German