Ein Handschuh (Title Page) - Max Klinger

The original title page for Max Klinger's influential 1881 etching cycle, 'Ein Handschuh', documenting the artist's seminal exploration of psychological symbolism.

This print represents the title page for the seminal series 'Ein Handschuh' (A Glove), created by the German artist Max Klinger in 1881. The cycle consists of ten etchings that explore the psychological obsession of a man who finds a lost glove at a skating rink. Klinger, a figure associated with the Symbolist movement, utilised the medium of etching to convey dreamlike, often irrational narratives that predate the formal development of Surrealism.

The title page itself is a study in typographic clarity and formal restraint. It provides the necessary bibliographic information for the fourth edition, published in Leipzig. The text is set in a clean, serif typeface, reflecting the aesthetic standards of late nineteenth-century German print culture. While the subsequent plates in the series are known for their complex, often unsettling imagery, this page serves as a formal introduction to the narrative sequence. It documents the artist's role as both the composer and the etcher of the series, asserting his control over the entire production process.

Klinger's work is frequently discussed in the context of late nineteenth-century European art, where artists began to move away from strict realism toward the exploration of the subconscious. The 'A Glove' series remains a primary example of this shift. By focusing on a mundane object, the glove, Klinger elevates it to a fetishistic symbol, allowing the viewer to engage with themes of desire and memory. This print offers a glimpse into the structured presentation of such avant-garde graphic cycles, maintaining a balance between the functional requirements of a title page and the artistic identity of the creator.