“Bares for Rares”
She wanted 800 euros for the picture from the last days of the war – and received a multiple
When she hears the expertise, Tanja Prüll can hardly believe her luck.
© ZDF
In March 1945 Mac Zimmermann painted a picture. Secretly, because the Nazis considered him “degenerate”. Tanja Prüll wants 800 euros for “Bares for Rares”. The expertise says something completely different.
“I would call her the thoughtful one,” says Horst Lichter looking at the picture that Tanja Prüll brought with her. The 49-year-old works as an animal healer, but also does theater in her free time. Lichter is very impressed by his visitor and predicts her a great career: after the show, she will have to decide whether to watch animals or theater, the moderator predicts. “I hope that both are possible,” replies Prüll. Lights also has the right solution for this: “You will simply treat animals on stage.”
But Prüll was actually because of the picture in “Bares for Rares”, which she once got from her father. Friederike Werner is very enthusiastic and provides background information about the work of art and its creator. This is the painter Mac Zimmermann, born in 1912, who lived until 1995. Artistically, he was assigned to Surrealism, “with cubist tendencies,” as the expert notes. In the Nazi dictatorship he was considered “degenerate”. In 1942 he was expelled from the Reich Chamber of Culture and banned from painting.
“Bares for Rares”: A picture from 1945
Luckily, Zimmermann didn’t stick to it: The picture offered for sale here dates from the last days of the war in March 1945. In order not to put himself in danger, he didn’t paint the nameless work in oil, but tempera – it didn’t smell, so he could in the create hidden.
A thoughtful girl is actually depicted. Although the picture shows damage, it is negligible – because the picture was “created under circumstances that were really depressing,” explains the art connoisseur.
Tanja Prüll would like 800 euros. But Friederike Werner has a different opinion: she estimates the picture at a price between 4000 and 4500 euros. “Wow,” exclaims the saleswoman – and Horst Lichter cheers with goodwill. “I’m extremely happy for you!” Says the moderator.
In the dealer’s room, Christian Vechtel researches the value of works by the artist Mac Zimmermann on the iPad – and starts with 1000 euros. Together with Elke Velten-Tönnies, the price increases to 3500 euros. In the end, the Bonn gallery owner was awarded the prize. A good deal for both of them: Velten-Tönnies remains below the estimated value – and Prüll receives many times their desired price.
In the end, Fabian Kahl gave the happy buyer extra praise: “Elke, I think it’s really cool that you’ve found your love for contemporary and modern art.”
source: “Bares for Rares” in the ZDF media library
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