Tanz (Dance) [or similar cabaret/tavern scene]

Painting on canvas • Attributed to Conrad Felixmüller (German, 1897-1977)

Style & Movement

New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit) and German Expressionism

Medium & Technique

Oil on canvas, utilizing blocky, expressive brushwork and a muted, earthy palette with saturated facial tones typical of Neue Sachlichkeit.

Creation Period

Circa 1920-1925

Dimensions & Format

Approximately 60 x 75 cm; horizontal landscape format.

Subject Description

Four figures are depicted in a crowded, interior cabaret or tavern setting. Their features are stylized and geometric, showing the transition from Expressionism to the gritty realism of the interwar period. A woman leans back laughing or singing while men with ruddy, almost cubist features look on. Background elements suggest a bar atmosphere with signage and a musician.

Condition & Value Assessment

Condition Assessment

Very Good; the work appears stable with minor surface grime and age-appropriate varnish yellowing.

Estimated Market Value

$150,000 - $300,000 USD

Auction Estimate

$120,000 - $250,000 USD

Provenance History

Likely sourced from a German private collection or estate; indicative of early 20th-century European modernism. No specific visible labels are present on the front.

Art Historical Significance

Highly significant as a document of the Weimar Republic's social fabric. Felixmüller's work bridges the gap between the radical political Expressionism of the late 1910s and the more disciplined social realism of the 1920s.

Notable Features

Distinctive use of exaggerated phrenology to denote class and character; signed lower right in a characteristic script typical of the Dresden Secessionists.

Condition Issues

Fine craquelure visible in the dark pigment areas; slight stretcher bar impressions along the top edge; minor frame abrasion.

Conservation Recommendations

Professional cleaning and UV-stable varnish recommended. Maintain at 50% relative humidity and avoid direct sunlight to prevent pigment fading.

Identified on 6/9/2026