"Lioness with cubs: original art"

(1884 Neustadt an der Hardt – 1957 Bad Dürkheim) "Lioness with Cubs." Original title. Depicted is a resting lioness with three cubs in the zoo (Tierpark Hellabrunn) in Munich. Created in 1925, the painting belongs to Dill’s best period, both in terms of subject matter and his Impressionist style, characterized by quick, broad brushstrokes and thickly applied paint. From 1908 to 1914, Dill studied at the Munich Academy, and from 1909 to 1913, he was a master student of animal painter Heinrich von Zügel, who introduced him to an interest in animals and Impressionism. Since childhood, Dill was especially fascinated by big cats, especially lions, unlike Zügel, who mainly depicted sheep and cattle. Therefore, Dill dedicated himself to lions and tigers as his main motifs. As early as the summer of 1917, Dill presented his first extensive collection of oil paintings and drawings at an exhibition in the Munich Glaspalast, which mainly featured lion and horse motifs. As a member of the Munich section, he participated in various exhibitions from 1922 to 1930. In 1923, in the prestigious art journal "Die Kunst für alle" (pp. 259–265), Munich art historian Dr. Willy Burger published a lengthy article about Dill and his paintings of lions and horses, in which he wrote: "His favorite animal, which best suits his intentions, is the predator from the first class of big cats, lions and tigers. In them, one can observe a constant state of alertness even at rest, the tense readiness of every nerve and muscle in the struggle for existence. The powerful stride of the lioness (...) finds expressive and characteristic interpretation in Dill’s paintings." Thus, the artist became known by the nickname "Lion Dill." In 1924, Dill was awarded the title of professor, and in 1930 the artist moved from Munich to Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, and in 1941 moved to Bad Dürkheim. Together with Max Slevogt, Otto Dill is today considered one of the most important artists of classical modernism from the Palatinate region. Oil on canvas; signed and dated 1925. Signature and title by the artist on the original label on the reverse. 50.5 cm x 60.5 cm. Framed. Provenance: German private collection, Rhineland-Palatinate.