AFTER. GIOTTO, "ST FRANCIS PREACHING TO THE BIRDS", a photogravure

Dimensions: 11 1/2"x15 1/4"

The Old Red Barn acquired a folio of German etchings from a local consignor. Lots () These etchings were in their possession for close to 40 years. They were gifted to a family member who lived in New Hampshire. This family was well known and most likely knew Edgar, who was in charge of the New York gallery and printing company at that time. Most likely they acquired these when the New York section was going through changes during the Great depression. Also, in same folio, there were a few etchings with the name W.Strasser (Lots ). The only ones we found are identical to those found in Fine Art Museum in San Francisco. After contact with the museum, not much was found on the name or the artist. There were only few known families in NY during the time, but none with W. as first initial. Those etching are all signed by him at the bottom of each sheet. Only conclusion can be made is that he worked closely with or for Edgar in NY and made them around that same time. Possibly family friend.
The painter, lithographer and later photographer Franz Hanfstaengl (1804-1877) founded a lithographic firm in Munich in 1833. He not only duplicated portraits, but also devoted himself explicitly to the reproduction of art. From the middle of the century he used photography as a new reproduction medium. The term "Kunstverlag Franz Hanfstaengl" was introduced by his son Edgar (1842-1910) when he took over his father's business in 1868 and further professionalized the reproduction of art.The term "Kunstverlag Franz Hanfstaengl" was introduced by his son Edgar (1842-1910) when he took over his father's business in 1868 and further professionalized the reproduction of art. In 1907 Edgar II (1883-1958) took over the management. He was one of the co-founders of the German Democratic Party (DDP) in Munich in 1919 and ran against the National Socialists in 1932. His brother Ernst (1887-1975), however, was a supporter of Hitler and headed since 1931, the foreign press office of the NSDAP. Soon, however, he fell out of favor and had in 1937 flee from his own party comrades abroad, where he was adviser to US President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945). After the Second World War, Edgar II continued the art publishing with a more modern-oriented publishing program. The increasing competition of cheaper offset printing resulted in 1980 in the resolution. Since 1926, the publishing house was in the Widenmayerstraße, the building is preserved.