Studien zur Farbenlehre, Dermatologie und Astronomie aus dem Nachlass. (Studies on Color Theory, Dermatology, and Astronomy from the Estate. Scientific Records, Drawings and Photographs) [ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR SCALES / COLOR THEORY & 80 ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS ]
From the Estate of Hansjörg Westmeyer. Box with binder. This collection is housed in six black paper-covered cardboard boxes (four 9 1/2 x 13 x 1 1/2", two 6 3/4 x 9 1/4 x 1 1/2"), and one large quarto blue cloth, screw-bolted binder with gilt lettering and design on cover.
Prof. Dr. Hansjörg Westmeyer (1911-2003) worked at the renowned Research Institute of the scientist Manfred von Ardenne (1907-1997) in Dresden-Weißer Hirsch. The private research Institute was founded in 1955. Approximately five hundred staff members focused on research in the fields of Applied Physics and Medicine.
The focus of Hansjörg Westmeyer's work were phenomenon of optical-physical perception, including extensive studies on color theory. He investigated Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy, a procedure to measure the absorption potential of skin while analyzing the skin color. 'In this procedure the pure absorption of color is augmented by the diffusion of light at the structures of a dull medium as a major influence.' (Quoted after Westmeyer, 1975) These experiments result in a thematic interface as well as content connections to his research of spectral colors by Westmeyer, and his astronomical studies. The latter includes photographs featuring the brightness of celestial bodies.
1. On the theme of color theory and perception of color, Westmeyer compiled a striking album of color scales, color hues and harmonies reminiscent of color schemes of the color theories of Wilhelm Ostwald and Paul Baumann, watercolor and gouache compositions, and a substantial collection of reproductions of artwork, providing an art historical backdrop for his demonstrations.
The first seventeen plates of the album contain mounted color scales with eight hundred and twenty-two cells in watercolor, arranged in scales, color hues and harmonies. The following twenty plates with fifty-four abstract color compositions and scenarios in watercolor, plus several color schemes containing one hundred and three cells. The following thirty-two plates serve a variety of purposes: two plates with 93 hand-painted cells in several hues present color scales relating to themes, e.g. Othello, Baroque colors, or the balanced palette. The next two plates represent Faber Birren palettes, including studies introducing Leonardo da Vinci's, Rembrandt's, El Greco's color preferences in schematic cell arrangements with forty-eight cells. Two plates with sixty watercolor cells represent skin colors, according to the Atlas of Dermatology. Eight plates with a total of three hundred cells are designated to scales by various color manufacturers. The final seventeen plates of hand-colored samples contain some thirty tipped-in plates, including decorative elements for tile flooring, examples of complimentary colors, predominately rendered in geometric forms. The last plate contains a paper wheel, three inches in diameter, with abstract design, housed in an original German telegram envelope pasted in.
The final sixty plates contain color reproductions of artwork by international and East German artists, the majority of them not captioned. Includes artists Claude Lorrain, Raffael, Gerald Dou, Jan Bruegel, Emil Nolde, Lucas Cranach, Erich Heckel, Hans Purmann, Eugen Popa, Erika Klein, Julius Schmid, and others.
2. On the subject of "Remission Spectrum of the Skin" this collection of documents contains a "Study on the Reflectance Spectrum of the Skin" in four parts, including a "Study on the Physical-Optic Interpretation and Analysis of the Remission Spectrum of the Skin," the latter and extensive bibliographical part also present in manuscript form. Plus numerous manuscript analysis' and manuscript computations as well as graphic evaluations. Housed two black paper-covered cardboard boxes containing four original institute envelopes and several folders.
3. The subject of "Brightness of Celestial Bodies" is represented with a portfolio of printed maps of stars and the moon as well as handwritten computations regarding the focal width of the camera lens, a group of more than eighty photographs of the moon surface, for the most part with extensive handwritten designation and precisely enlarged drawings, dated between November 1979 to 1986. There are calculations and excerpts to spectral research, a sketchbook with original photographs pasted in, plus handwritten calculations of crossed-grating spectrums (Tau, Ori, Cep), calculations and printed charts and calendars for fixed star observations, photographs of star constellations and stars in postcard format (Taurus, Orion, etc.). Of these thirty-four are from the 1950s and '60s, forty-six from the 1980s and twenty-seven not dated. All of them with careful handwritten designation of star constellations as well as numerous index cards with printed displays of the starry sky (1957/58) at various times of the year. Housed in four black paper-covered boxes, two of them the smaller size.
Text in German, includes handwritten text and descriptors. Cloth binder with light wear along edges, slightly bent at front foredge corner. Light rippling of yellow paper of inside covers. Some offsetting of watercolors to facing pages. Few plates with small paper residues from removed, previously tipped in paper on some twenty plates, not affecting original watercolors tipped in on top of residue. Very good+ to fine condition. Item #53629
Price: $15,000.00