Bestseller

In 1908, the vesting period agreed between Paul and Bruno Cassirer expires. The intention behind it had been avoiding direct competition between the former business partners. Now, in addition to the publishing house, Bruno Cassirer is also increasingly dealing in art.

There are numerous statements of account in his letters to Max Slevogt. They contain sales lists and much price information and illustrate Cassirer’s publishing activities.

The correspondence also shows how Cassirer proceeds as a gallery owner. He makes efforts to place Slevogt in important exhibitions – also internationally. By doing this, he drives the latter’s prominence and increases sales prospects.

Sometimes Cassirer tries to persuade Slevogt to use certain motifs. Still-life paintings are particularly popular at the time. This salmon still life is one of them. Slevogt paints several pictures with salmon or other fish.

These statements of account also show that Cassirer usually receives a third of the sales price.

In this letter of 30 August 1926, Bruno Cassirer suggests to Slevogt that he paint another still life like this salmon still life.

Dear Slevogt. Thank you very much for your telegram. I subsequently cancelled Feilchenfeld and am happy to be able to do a small exhibition of yours at my place. I would appreciate it if I could have some information about your new pictures and dimensions for the frames.

I still have, as you will remember, a still life with lilacs of yours, for which I am offered 3,500 marks, in other words 3,000 for you. Perhaps you can send me a telegram to say if you agree. It would be very nice if I could also have some still-life paintings by you for the winter. In the meantime, I have seen the [Salmon Still Life or Cut Salmon] you sold to Nicolai in Dresden; I think it’s excellent.

Couldn’t you come to Lindenhof for a while? I would send the car to Berlin for you. However, I don’t know when you’ll be coming to Berlin. You can live here in peace and paint, if you want. It’s lovely here.

I now want to have more to do with art and, if I succeed, build an extension, so that I can have small, beautiful rooms for pictures. My old love is still deep inside me. It is very possible to add a small room with high light from the side with an entrance through the garden. I’m quite sure Tessenow would make that appealing to me. We would have to talk about that.

Write to me how you are doing.

Best regards, Bruno Cassirer