Artwork
The Shop
The Shop is a drawing by Rolf Brandt. It dates from 1945 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Shop is a drawing by Rolf Brandt, an artist influenced by Dada, Surrealism, and Bauhaus styles.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing illustrates a short story by Brandt, depicting a shop on a quiet country road with a haunting atmosphere. Disembodied hands draw attention to a ghostly face in the shop window and a similar face on a map.
Technique & Style
The work showcases Brandt's Surrealist tendencies, imbuing an everyday scene with an eerie quality. The drawing's style reflects his interest in artists like Paul Klee.
History & Provenance
Brandt created the drawing in London, where he had moved from Hamburg in the early 1930s with his brother Bill, a photographer.
Artist & collection
Artist
German draftsman Rolf Brandt drew everyday scenes in the mid-1940s, leaving two surviving drawings in ink and wash.
