This is an excellent charcoal drawing featuring the portrait of Leutnant Immelmann in uniform wearing the Pour le Mérite and Iron Cross 1st Class, inscribed and signed by the artist on the side “O. Graf. 6.3.16”, lower left with large autograph signature “Max Immelmann Leutnant.”. The drawing in original matting, dimensions 48 x 63.5 cm, with old inscription at the lower margin “Original signature of the aviator M. Immelmann (+ Summer 1916)!”, further to the right inscribed “Druck 4 ! Oskar G..”. Condition 2.
The portrait drawing and signature were created in March 1916, only 3 months before Max Immelmann's death in aerial combat.
Artistically excellent work and historically significant, this portrait drawing was likely intended as a template for patriotic prints or postcards.
Max Franz Immelmann (* September 21, 1890 in Dresden; † June 18, 1916 near Annay, Département Pas-de-Calais, France) was, alongside Oswald Boelcke and Manfred von Richthofen, among the most successful and famous German fighter pilots of World War I. His success in aerial combat earned him the nickname “Eagle of Lille” among his adversaries. He received Prussia's highest decoration for bravery — the Order Pour le Mérite.
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