Sold at auction extremely rare album of drawings by Caspar David Friedrich

Nearly two million euros: at this figure a rare notebook of drawings by the great Caspar David Friedrich was auctioned a few days ago in Germany. Last Nov. 30, at an auction held by the German house Grisebach, an 1804 album by Friedrich was in fact sold for 1.8 million euros, but now the question arises as to where it will go, since a few days before the sale it was declared a cultural asset of national interest. The restriction thus prevents the precious notebook from leaving Germany’s borders.

It is a small notebook consisting of twenty sheets of paper: 33 pages are drawn in pencil, and also partially watercolored. Each of the pages is signed and dated by the artist, who made his drawings between April 25 and June 1, 1804. Also known as the Karlsruhe Notebook, it has been in the family of Georg Friedrich Kersting, who was Friedrich’s friend, for more than 200 years.

It is the first of Friedrich’s sketchbooks to ever be offered for sale. Prior to the auction, the item was exhibited in Berlin, Zurich and New York. And now the question of where the work will go, and whether it will be displayed to the public, will be on the horizon, not least because 2024 marks the 250th anniversary of Friedrich’s birth and Germany is gearing up for a whole year of celebrations.

Sold at auction extremely rare album of drawings by Caspar David Friedrich

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