The Flight
c. 1912
Medium
color monotype on thin Japanese paper, with coated paper beneath attached to a black wove support sheet
Dimensions
sheet: 33.6 × 48.2 cm (13 1/4 × 19 in.) support: 48.4 × 66.8 cm (19 1/16 × 26 5/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen
Accession Number
2012.92.375
Art Historical Context
**The Flight** by Moriz Melzer created around 1912, captures the innovative spirit of early 20-century printmaking. This striking color monotype—measuring 33.6 × 48.2 cm on its sheet—was produced by applying pigments directly to a smooth plate and transferring them in a single pull to delicate thin Japanese paper. Beneath lies a coated paper layer, affixed to a larger black wove support sheet48.4 × 66.8 cm), enhancing and visual drama. Monotypes like this bridge painting and print, yielding unique impressions with painterly textures impossible in traditional editions. Melzer's choice of Japan...