Published by Verlag für moderne Kunst. Edited with text by Stefan Banz. Text by Sven Daigger, Louis Michel Eilshemius, Roberto Ohrt.
Louis Michel Eilshemius: Six Musical Moods delves into the musical oeuvre of Eilshemius (1864–1941). In addition to photographs, paintings, drawings, scores and texts, this publication includes a CD of seven of his compositions recorded by German pianist Imke Lichtwark. His musical works are characterized by the same light-hearted, romantic warmth and affection as his paintings and drawings, alternating between old-fashioned flair and futuristic audacity. This he achieved, for example, by extrapolating and rearranging sequences of musical notes from the history of music, not unlike the "sampling" that came much later. The story goes that the New Jersey–born artist was discovered by Marcel Duchamp at the famous First Annual Exhibition of the Society of Independent Artists in New York. Whatever the provenance of this tale, it serves the impression Eilshemius made as a visionary and singular artist.
Published by JRP|Ringier. Text by Stefan Banz, Louis Michel Eilshemius.
Louis Michel Eilshemius (1864–1941) was practically unknown to the general public until Marcel Duchamp discovered him in the famous first exhibition of the Society of Independent Artists at the Grand Central Palace in New York in 1917. Duchamp and Katherine Drier organized the painter’s first solo exhibitions in New York in 1920 and 1924 at the Société Anonyme, and suddenly Eilshemius’ name was on the lips of influential critics and collectors. Eilshemius himself, frustrated by years of failure, and having grown increasingly eccentric, gave up painting in 1921. Although today many US museums and collectors possess works by Eilshemius, the artist has faded into obscurity. Eilshemius perfectly exemplifies—in the age of biennials and art fairs—the resolute individualist. This massive volume compiles over 500 works, providing the reader with a profound insight into the oeuvre of this unusual artist and examining Eilshemius’ influence on Duchamp’s artistic thinking.
Louis Michel Eilshemius: Peer of Poet-Painters