Ihre Neujahrswünsche aufs herzlichste erwidert. Das Atelier hatte schon Frucht gebracht, noch vor Ende des alten Jahres sind 3 neue Arbeiten entstanden. Das neue Jahr wird ein Fruchtbares sein. Ich kann mich jetzt bewegen und Melodien anklingen. […] Ich danke Ihnen vom Herzen für all das Güte, daß Sie für mich thun. Ihr in Dankbarkeit ergebener M. Kogan
Letter from Moissey Kogan, Paris to Max Sauerlandt, Hamburg, 3 January 1927 (SUB Hamburg, Nachlaß Max Sauerlandt: 14.25)
On Christmas Day 1926, Moissey Kogan had moved into his new atelier and home at 14, Cité Falguière, Paris, which would be his home base for the rest of his life. With him was his new girlfriend, Maryla Friedman and her piano, on which she played Chopin and Bach to accompany his work (and gave private lessons to keep them afloat financially in leaner times). This was a happy, positive moment in their life together. It is likely that the acquisitions Max Sauerlandt, director of the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, had made of Kogan’s work contributed to the artist’s sense of optimism during that festive period.
The Moissey Kogan Catalogue Raisonné Project has also recently moved to larger premises and we are looking forward to enjoying more space and time to take the Project into a fruitful future. Whilst there have been delays in the political arena for too long, it is now hoped that clarity will allow us to move full steam ahead in the coming months.
We would like to thank you, our followers and readers, for your interest in our endeavour, and for the kind and generous gifts in support of the Catalogue Raisonné.
We wish you a Happy Chanukah, a Happy Christmas and a prosperous, peaceful New Year. Season’s Greetings!
Featured image: Moissey Kogan, Zwei sitzende weibliche Akte mit Pflanzen (Two seated female nudes with plants), lithograph on Japan paper, 27.7 cm x 23.7 cm, late 1920s – 1930s (Söhn 57)