An intrepid traveller throughout her life, Stern was unable to visit Europe for the duration of the Second World War. With the signing of the peace treaty in 1947, restrictions were lifted and Stern's was swift to take advantage of this freedom. She made a tour of Europe in 1948, and was particularly captivated by Venice.

Surrounded by the shimmering canals and reflections of light, Stern experienced a great surge of creativity. She reflected on her visit in a letter to her friend, Freda Feldman:

"It was perfectly lovely to see and hear all that Europe gives in such a short time – all the new music – the plays – the Drama – the Opera – the Ballet – pictures from fourteen different countries were on show...Yes I painted in Venice quite a few pictures."

The present lot demonstrates her fascination with the city's architecture. It depicts the famous arch bridge, the Ponte de Pugni. The gouache is lightly and deftly applied, lending an ethereal quality to the scene.

Bibliography:
M. Arnold, Irma Stern: A Feast for the Eye, (Stellenbosch, 1995), pp.70-77.
M. Berman, Remembering Irma, Irma Stern: A Memoir with Letters, (Cape Town, 2003), pp.129–153.

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