Title page from the portfolio On Death, Part One, Opus XI - Max Klinger

A formal title page for Max Klinger's 1889 graphic cycle, Vom Tode, detailing the contents and production of this significant Symbolist portfolio.

This print serves as the title page for the first part of Max Klinger's significant graphic cycle, Vom Tode (On Death), designated as Opus XI. Klinger, a German artist associated with the Symbolist movement, utilised this portfolio to explore existential themes through a series of ten distinct etchings. The title page provides a formal introduction to the collection, listing the individual plates such as Nacht (Night), Seeleute (Seamen), and Der Tod als Heiland (Death as Saviour).

The composition is strictly typographic, reflecting the aesthetic sensibilities of late nineteenth-century German print culture. The layout is balanced and clear, with the primary title in red ink providing a visual anchor against the black text. The document details the production history, noting the printing by Wilhelm Felsing in Berlin and the distribution through Amsler and Ruthardt. This specific example represents the fourth edition of the work.

Klinger's graphic cycles were often intended to be viewed as cohesive narratives rather than isolated images. By presenting the table of contents in this manner, the artist invites the viewer to engage with the thematic progression of the series. The stark, clean presentation of the text contrasts with the often dark and allegorical nature of the etchings contained within the portfolio. This print is a primary document for those interested in the history of printmaking and the development of the graphic arts in Germany during the fin de siècle period. It captures the meticulous attention to detail that Klinger applied to every aspect of his published portfolios, from the initial etching to the final presentation of the printed page.