This early 20th-century oil painting by German artist Herbert Ludwig (1901-1976) depicts a plush interior with sculptures.

Within this symphony of blue, broken by warm light, there’s an artist working with spirit. Undeterred by convention, painting from the heart - painting himself. Statues contort and twist under a heavy gilt frame, while a small writing desk stands illuminated. Ludwig was 21, at the start of his career, excited by emerging philosophies.

Could it be his parents’ home? Or perhaps a room at the Academy? Often artists studied sculptures to improve their draughtsmanship. Either way, he’s surrounded by inspiration.

In the early 1920s, art in Germany was evolving as creatives sought to express a mood rather than simply a likeness alone. Amid the advent of expressionism, Ludwig painted an otherwise gentle interior with a poignant edge. There’s underlying tension within its dark evocative beauty.

Signed/dated lower left and held within its original gilt frame.

Learn more about Herbert Ludwig in our directory.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 16½” x 20” / 42cm x 51cm
Year of creation: 1922
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.