Eva Frankfurther artist (1930-1959)

Organ Grinder (Der Leiermann)

(private collection)

description This drawing entitled "Der Leierman" (organ grinder) was inspired by the Schubert song of the same name in which an organ grinder stands in a village cranking his instrument with frozen fingers. No one pays attention, his begging bowl remains empty and the village dogs growl at him, but still he continues. It was made in May 1953 as a birthday present for the artist's father, who loved the Winterreise song cycle. In a letter to her father, the artist explains that the apparently absent dogs in fact occupy the position of the onlooker.

date 1953

dimensions 25.5 x 20.3 cm

medium pencil, pen and ink and wash on paper

reference k4846