40 portraits of Albert Einstein up for auction

By Dean Murray

There's a fascinating look at the changing face of a genius as forty portraits of Albert Einstein go under the hammer.

The auction includes works signed by the theoretical physicist, as well as a chilling 1934 Nazi document stripping the Nobel laureate of his German citizenship.

Artistic interpretations span from 1917 to the 1950s, beginning with Einstein's first-ever artistic portrait, a 1917 etching by German artist Erich Büttner commissioned in Berlin. In it, a 38-year-old "youthful Albert Einstein" is captured in contemplative profile, presaging the fame to come.

The catalogue also features works by renowned contemporaries such as Hermann Struck, Lou Albert-Lasard, and Max Liebermann, among others, each putting their spin on the genius.

The Nazi-issued denaturalization notice for Albert Einstein, dated March 1934, lists the world-famous physicist's name and birth details alongside the chilling declaration that he was "Declared to have lost his German citizenship."

This stark document symbolizes the peril Einstein faced under Hitler's regime. He had already fled Germany in 1933 after Hitler's rise, and this notice sealed his exile.

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Boston-based RR Auction said: "Albert Einstein sat for artists across five decades – from his Berlin heyday to his Princeton exile – and now nearly 40 of these rare portraits are headed to the auction block.

"It's a museum-worthy collection that offers a visual journey through Einstein's life, capturing the legendary physicist in art and ink from World War I through the Cold War."

Bobby Livingston, Executive Vice President at RR Auction, said: "These portraits collectively chart Einstein's evolution from a rising scientific star in Germany to the most recognizable thinker on the planet.

"Nearly 35 different artists captured him, many of them Jewish, each with their own interpretation, and several of the works were signed by Einstein himself."

RR Auction adds: "The nearly 40 portraits trace Einstein's evolution from a young revolutionary scientist into the wise, white-haired sage of later years. We see him in myriad styles – from sharp-lined etchings to bold woodcuts – a testament to his status as a "great mind" who fascinated the art world.

"Even in caricature and abstraction, the unruly hair, piercing eyes, and thoughtful expression are instantly recognizable, reflecting how Einstein became the face of scientific genius across generations."

Bidding in the RR Auction sale closes December 10.