Klinger, M., Dramen. VI Motive in X Blättern. Radierungen Opus IX. Second edition. Series of 10 orig. etchings , partly with aquatint. Berlin, May 1883. Brown orig. half cloth with embossing in black and gold. Imperial folio (64 : 47 cm).

Singer 147-156. - Varnedoe pp. 38f. - Kühn S. 109ff. - Pommeranz-Liedtke p. 197. - Rare second edition, just 15 copies published, this is the Stinnes copy no. 10. - Splendid impressions before letters in rich brown black from the plate before steeling on yellowish Japon imiteé. Copper print by Otto Felsing. The series comprises the following etchings: I. In Flagranti. - II. Ein Schritt. - III-V. Eine Mutter. - VI. Im Walde. - VII. Ein Mord. - VIII-X. Märztage. The title leaf with an allegory on the transience in so-called glass etchings after a drawing by M. Klinger. Size of paper ca. 63 : 45,5 cm, size of plates ca. 45-45,5 : 27,5-35,5 cm. Singer specifies the following single sheets: 147 VII (of 10), 148-149 IV (of VII), 150 VI (of IX), 151-152 IV (of VII), 153 V (of VIII), 154-156 IV (of VII).
"With regards to content. The description of social drama is even more drawn to life and universal in a second .. cycle, the 'Dramen' from 1883. It was the days that naturalism gained foothold in German literature. Its request for an exact observation and knowledge of the milieu and in line with a detailed description, Klinger also makes an effort in his dramas to render an exact outline of the setting and objective-realistic actions.. With the 'Dramen' Klinger reached the peak of his Realism. The great graphic accomplishment and along with them their new sound of truth in contemporary art earn him first academic merits and the Gold Medal in Berlin." (Translation of quote from Pommeranz-L.) - All etchings titled lower right as well as most with small collector stamp of Hugo Stinnes and with ms. inscription of ownership at the beginning. - Edgeworn and scuffed in places, else fine and clean copy. "Klinger's critique of late nineteenth-century society, begun in A Life , reaches its high-water mark in the Dramas , series of six episodes from contemporary life." (Varnedoe)