Ernst Odefey (1882–1964) A Sailboat Cruise, Original Color Woodcut, Ca. 1915

Original, hand-signed colour woodcut by the Hamburg painter and graphic artist Ernst Odefey, dating from around 1915.

The colourful composition depicts two figures in a sailing boat, surrounded by stylised sails and masts. Rich shades of blue, green and red, combined with strong outlines, give the scene a particularly decorative character. The simplified forms reflect the transition from Art Nouveau to early Expressionism.

Ernst Odefey (1882–1964) studied in Hamburg and Weimar, where his teachers included Hans Olde. His North German background and visits to the Baltic island of Bornholm strongly influenced his interest in maritime subjects and landscapes.

Original color woodcut, hand-signed by the Hamburg painter and printmaker Ernst Odefey, created around 1915.

The vibrantly colored composition depicts two figures in a sailboat, surrounded by stylized sails and masts. The intense shades of blue, green, and red, combined with sharply defined contours, lend this scene a particularly decorative quality. The simplification of forms reflects the transition from Art Nouveau to early Expressionism.

Ernst Odefey (1882–1964) studied in Hamburg and Weimar, notably under Hans Olde. His North German origins and his stays on the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea influenced his interest in landscapes and maritime subjects.

Signed in pencil “Ernst Odefey” in the lower left margin. Another handwritten inscription, partially erased and still difficult to decipher, appears in the lower right margin.

The title “Sailboat Outing” is descriptive; the location depicted has not been identified with certainty.

Artist: Ernst Odefey (1882–1964), Hamburg
Title: Sailboat Cruise (descriptive title)
Date: circa 1915
Technique: Original color woodcut on paper
Signature: Signed in pencil in the lower left corner
Dimensions with frame: 40.7 × 36.7 cm
Image dimensions: 30.5 × 25.7 cm
Condition: Good condition, paper very slightly yellowed
Presentation: Framed, as shown in the photographs

Carsten Meyer-Tönnesmann: Ernst Odefey 1882–1964. Life and Work of the Hamburg Painter and Graphic Artist. Exhibition catalog, Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg, 2016.

Exhibition catalog (PDF):
https://www.ub.hsu-hh.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/attachmentdata49698.pdf

Ernst Odefey, Hamburg, color woodcut, sailboat trip, sailboat, boat trip, summer outing, Lake Alster, maritime art, Art Nouveau, Jugendstil, Expressionism, German Modernism, original print, signed print, circa 1915.

Viewing by appointment at Denes Szy, Kunsthandel, Königsallee 27–31, 40212 Düsseldorf, Germany.

Discover other selected works of art and antiques on our website:
https://denes-szy.com/produkte/

If you have any questions, please use the Proantic contact form or contact us directly.