Christine Engels Sold at Auction Prices

Christine Engels (Leipzig School) - "Success - Training Break", oil/mixed media on canvas

Three successful GDR swimmers on a break from training, standing on the roof terrace of the north wing of the Leipzig swimming stadium, the Leipzig Central Stadium in the background. According to the enclosed note, they are prominent members of the SC DHfK, such as Elke Sehmisch and Gabriele Wetzko, members of the GDR national swimming team. They won the silver medal in the 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, for example. C. Engels plays with the motif of the three graces in a masterly way in her depiction of these champion swimmers. However, we are not looking into idealised faces here. The subjects are depicted in a highly realistic style with exhausted features: they are simply hard working swimmers on a break from training. Expressive painting in the neo-objective style of the Leipzig School. Signed and dated 1976 at the bottom right. Dimensions 93 x 146 cm, framed 109 x 169 cm. Condition: II