SwissArtGallery · Documented identity

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Documented citizenships : Germany

The German artist Ernst Wilhelm Nay, born in Berlin in 1902 and died in Cologne in 1968, developed a style of painting whose forms and the place accorded to colour changed markedly over the years. After studying with Karl Hofer at the Berlin Academy of Sculpture from 1925 to 1928 on a scholarship, he received the Rome Prize of the German Academy at the Villa Massimo for 1931–1932.

The study devoted to his work reports that the paintings made in 1943, during his military service in France, remain figurative while giving increasing importance to colour. In discussing the works of 1950–1951, it takes up Haftmann’s interpretation: colour manifests itself on the canvas and gives rise to musical associations. From 1956 onwards, Nay reduced the formal and rhythmic elements to a basic motif, characteristic of the so-called “discs” period.

That same year, he created Das Freiburger Bild for the Institute of Chemistry at the University of Freiburg. This canvas, measuring 255 × 655 cm, occupies a central position at documenta 1959, where it dominates the main hall of the Museum Fridericianum. His works were a sustained presence at documenta: they featured in the first three editions, including the 1955 edition, held in Kassel.

Waldgeist, dated 1948 and catalogued under number Claesges 48-018, offers an example of his work on paper: the Lempertz catalogue describes it as a gouache and pencil drawing measuring 24.8 × 16 cm, signed and dated at the lower right.

This profile brings together identity references for Ernst Wilhelm Nay and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.

Documented auction references

175auction references

3auction houses

174documented results with prices

Lempertz · Ketterer · Germann

References include catalogue entries and available results; they do not all represent completed sales. Attributed works and special lots are excluded from the priced results.

Works recorded at auction

Ketterer · Lot 78

My - 11 - 64 (Mykonos)

Watercolour

Original catalogue wording

My - 11 - 64 (Mykonos)
aquarelle

Auction date : 2026-09-15

Published result : 40200 EUR

Hammer price, excluding fees

Estimate : 18000

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Documented auction references

Works recorded at auction

My - 11 - 64 (Mykonos)

Motion

Smaragd in Grau

Spiele

Mutter, kleinen Jungen führend

Helle Chromatik

Aufleuchtend in Rot

Schiffe im Hafen

Untitled

Untitled

Kleine Silbermelodie

Landscape

Studie zum Freiburger Bild

Sonnenzirkel

Von Höhlen und Grotten

Federgrau

Orpheus Lied

Figurale - Sitzende

Ene mene ming mang

Oberon II

Untitled

Sitzende mit Spiegel

Azuro

In Blockformen

Himmlische Botschaft

Menschenschicksale II

Untitled

Untitled

Liegende

Forest Spirit

Motion

Liegende große Frau

Seejungfrau

Girlandenbild

Untitled

Untitled

Mit weißer Spindel

Figurale - Phyllis

Keime im Sand

Leuchtendes Dunkel

Persisches Gedicht

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Mutter, kleinen Jungen führend IV

Omikron

Chromatische Ketten

Menschen in den Lofoten

Untitled

Prometheus I

Ostseefischer

Grüne Flucht

Composition

Liegende in Landschaft

In freien Rhythmen

Die Uhr (Krapplack, Blau und Grün)

Vibration

Liegende

Untitled

Komposition / Figurale-Helion

Untitled

Untitled

Paolo und Francesca

Onyx

Untitled

Fisch und Muschel

Doppelspindel-Rot

Lots Weib

In Blockformen

Kythera (Die Brücke)

Eurydike

Kleine Parklandschaft

Drei Kreuze (Taunus)

Untitled

Halb Gelb - halb Blau

Untitled

Fischer