George Grosz
Ger. 1893–1959
No. 73 Restaurant
Signed "Grosz" b.r. and titled "No. 73 Restaurant" b.l.
Watercolor
17 x 24 in.
(43.2 x 61.0 cm)
Property of Michael Lazrus, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania and Ogunquit, Maine
Jay Kaye Lazrus, New York
By descent to his son, the current owner
18 1/2 x 25 1/2 in. paper
(47.0 x 64.8 cm paper) In a fax to Barridoff Galleries, Ralph Jentsch, the recognized authority on work by George Grosz, who provided the earliest provenance, location, and date as above, writes, “...what a pleasant surprise to see this beautiful and important Grosz watercolor come to light!" In a separate statement he writes, “I herewith confirm that the work shown in this photograph is an original work by George Grosz (1894 – 1959) and that it will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of works on paper by George Grosz." Jentsch also writes the following in a statement dated August 30, 2013: “This watercolor was among 28 other works sent by George Grosz in November 1935 for an exhibition at the Germanic Museum, Harvard University, in Cambridge. [Jentsch dates the watercolor ten years earlier, ca. 1925.] The scene shows an illustrious group of people gathered in a posh Berlin restaurant. Part of the inscription of “Restaurant” can be read mirror-inverted on the big window of the palace-like dining hall. They are having a good time by champagne and exquisite wine. The place is crowded. Focus is on two tables with a couple at the right and two men with a girl on the left. The relationship between these people is not evident; however, the expression of the various faces tells us more. The gentleman on the right, eyes closed, seems to have made compliments to his companion that make her obviously slightly embarrassed, while at the other table all three seem to have a good time. It would not be Grosz to have produced just an ordinary restaurant scene. A closer look reveals what is really going on. First of all the ugliness of the three men is evident, while the girls are charming. Then there is the disparity of age. Besides the hideous faces of the men at the other table, it is their lascivious grin, like lurking animals sure of their catch, that unmasks them, while the young lady still seems to be self-assured. What most likely has taken place is that these men, executives of a firm, have invited these two girls, their secretaries or some sort of employees of the firm, with the intention to seduce them, a classic example, how people of higher rank misuse their power, shamelessly taking advantage of people depending on them. Grosz has captured the repellent scene still with fine humour. He started the work with watercolor, working wet into wet, using carefully the fine lines of pen and ink just in some places in order to outline faces, figures and objects in the composition."

Good appearance, good condition, not laid down, museum quality mat
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