A rare self-portrait by renowned German artist Werner Tübke has achieved remarkable success at auction, selling for double its estimated price at Dr. Irene Lehr Art Auctions in Berlin. The painting, titled "Self-Portrait with Red Jacket" from 1961, fetched 65,000 euros from a bidder in Hesse, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of 35,000 euros.
The oil on hardboard work, measuring 40 by 26.8 centimeters, had remained hidden from public view for decades in the estate of Rudolf Zuckermann, a collector from Halle. This exceptional self-portrait, which conveys themes of world-weariness and depressive mood, was displayed publicly only once before - in 1989 at the East Berlin National Gallery on the occasion of the artist's 80th birthday celebration.
Stylistically, the painting draws inspiration from masters of the North German Renaissance, reflecting Tübke's deep connection to historical artistic traditions. The work was created just before Tübke embarked on a significant multi-month study trip to the Soviet Union, a journey made possible through the advocacy of East German cultural official Alfred Kurella.
This pivotal journey to the Soviet Union triggered a creative surge that would define much of Tübke's subsequent career. The trip inspired numerous individual works and series, culminating in his most ambitious project - a state commission for the monumental Peasants' War Panorama in Bad Frankenhausen, Thuringia, which was completed in 1987.
The successful auction demonstrates the continued strong market interest in works by Tübke, particularly rare pieces with significant provenance that have remained in private hands. The painting's journey from the Zuckermann estate to its new owner in Hesse ensures it will continue to be preserved in private collection.
