Adolph von Menzel (1815 Breslau - 1905 Berlin)Hofschranze, Bleistift und Kohlestift auf festem Papier, 29 cm x 20,5 cm Blattmaß, monogrammiert, verso signiert, vermutlich 1880er Jahre, partiell stockfleckig, zwei kleine kugelförmige Durchdrücke im Papier, Papier an den Rändern nachgedunkelt, montiert, verso Montierungsrückstände, Provenienz: (laut Etikett verso) Familie Ranke, BerlinAdolph von Menzel (1815 Breslau - 1905 Berlin)Hofschranze, pencil and charcoal pen on solid paper, 29 cm x 20.5 cm sheet dimension, monogrammed, verso signed, probably 1880s, partially stain-spotted, two small marks of pressure in the paper, paper darkened around the edges, mounted, verso mount residues, provenance: (according to label verso) Familie Ranke, Berlin. Adolf v. Menzel was an artist who was able to store a comprehensible and realistic atmosphere in his works. Through his skilful eye he was able to capture figures and their surroundings in drawings and executed oil paintings. One of his best-known works is probably ''Iron Rolling Mill'' (1872-1875); it shows workers in the very same mill and has become virtually emblematic of the Industrial Revolution through various groups of people, their postures and the overall view of a striking scene. His oeuvre is extraordinarily diverse, for he became known and was highly honoured during his lifetime primarily for his historicising depictions of the life of Frederick the Great, such as in Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam. Menzel already made numerous figure sketches for these works. Charcoal sketches, such as the ''Hofschranze'', not only depicted the mostly moving figure, as here taking a step forward, but also captured the expression of the person and pointed to the personal character. Thus, not only do glimpses of composed scenes develop, but the figures depicted seem in some way to live on in the picture, to breathe, think and act. On the verso, we find a reference from the 1950s to the authentication and dating of the 1880s ''by the art historian Dr. Lily Martius of the Art Historical Institute of the University of Kiel, expert of the Kiel Art Gallery for 19th century paintings and graphics''.