Hinrichsen print collection at Rosebery’s

A significant collection of prints from German-born art historian Klaus Hinrichsen (1912-2004), a key figure in promoting émigré art in the UK, will be showcased in Roseberys’ first Prints & Multiples auction of 2025 in London.

The sale marks the first public auction of Hinrichsen’s collection of prints.

Highlights include a signed and numbered Pierre Soulages etching, as well as a sensitive David Hockney print depicting two boys, signed and inscribed ‘for The Black Dwarf’ in pencil. Works by Jewish émigré artists Jules Pascin and Katerina Wilczynski will also go under the hammer as part of the collection.

Hinrichsen, who was half-Jewish, fled Nazi Germany in 1938, settling in London. Interned as an enemy alien on the Isle of Man during World War II, he spent a year at Hutchinsons Camp alongside artists, musicians, and writers, where he helped run the camp’s University. His recollections of his time in the camp are part of the Tate Archive.

After his release, Hinrichsen, unable to work in public art institutions, turned to collecting as a hobby. He amassed an eclectic range of works, including maps, ethnographic items, and lithographs, often purchasing from auctions. His collection, meticulously catalogued and researched, spans from the late 1940s to his death in 2004.

Ed Plackett, Head of Prints & Multiples, Rosebery’s, commented: “Hinrichsen was a noted art historian, but his eye for significant, well-provenanced works is less recognised. His collection features some of the most important names in 20th-century British and European art, focused on quality and historical significance rather than market value. We are honoured to be the first auction house entrusted to sell his prints collection.”

Beyond the Hinrichsen collection, other notable works in the sale include two signed and stamp-numbered Campbell’s Soup Can prints by Andy Warhol, and a rare Picasso lithograph of a woman’s head, printed by Mourlot, from an edition of 50 plus 5 artist’s proofs. Prints from this era in excellent condition, with low print runs, are rarely offered at auction. The sale is completed by a Bob Dylan print from his Sidetracks series. Roseberys holds the auction record for prints by the artist.

The sale takes place on February 19.