At the Reiss Bar, 1928

Smoking, a young lady sits leaning against the bar with her legs crossed and her hand propped on her hip. Self-confident, encouraging and relaxed at once, she is looking straight at the viewer, an epitome of the modern, chic woman of the world. Hans Böhler’s (1884–1961) studies of international art become obvious here. Many French impressionists tried their hand at portraying that type of woman that seemed to be conquering European big cities. Like in the work At the Café by Ferdinand Stransky (1904–1981), light falling in from the side in parts illuminates the woman’s clothes. Shades of dark red are evocative of the shady demimonde atmosphere of long nights whose secrets are revealed only to nighthawks inside barroom doors.

RR, 2021