Children Under Umbrella (Pair of Illustrations)

Illustrations by Berta Hummel
Printed works dated 1931 and 1936
Presented together in vintage frame

The Piece

A paired presentation of two tender illustrations depicting children sheltering beneath umbrellas, rendered with the softness, emotional restraint, and narrative warmth that define the early work of Berta Hummel.

The left image is signed and dated 1931, the right 1936, placing these works squarely within Hummel’s most important creative period, before her imagery was commercialized into figurines. These illustrations originate from her time as Sister Maria Innocentia in Germany, when she produced drawings intended for children’s books and devotional publications.

The figures are expressive but never exaggerated. Their closeness, posture, and shared gesture convey protection, companionship, and innocence without sentimentality. This is precisely why Hummel’s early work endures.

Historical Context (Why This Matters)

Berta Hummel’s original illustrations are the foundation of what later became the globally recognized Hummel figurines produced by Goebel. However, the printed illustrations themselves predate and outclass the figurines in terms of artistic and historical value.

Early dated Hummel prints from the 1930s are especially desirable because:

• they reflect the artist’s original intent

• they were produced before mass-market translation

• they retain the softness and restraint often lost in later adaptations

The visible dates 1931 and 1936 are not decorative. They anchor this piece historically.

Medium & Production

• Original printed illustrations after drawings by Berta Hummel

• Signed in the plate “Hummel” with dates 31 and 36

• Likely German or Central European production

• Presented as a paired composition

These are not modern reproductions. The paper, printing method, and aging are consistent with early 20th-century print production.

Frame & Presentation

• Vintage wood frame with stepped profile

• Neutral matting with inner window for each image

• Period paper backing retained

• Original hanging hardware present

The decision to pair the two illustrations enhances their narrative and visual balance.

Condition

Very good antique/vintage condition.

• Even age toning consistent with early 20th-century paper

• No major tears or losses

• Minor surface wear appropriate to age

• Frame shows light wear and patina

All condition notes support authenticity rather than detract from presentation.

Why It Belongs in Your Home

This is quiet emotional art, not kitsch.

These illustrations work beautifully in spaces that value warmth and story: bedrooms, nurseries, reading rooms, hallways, or layered traditional interiors. They also sit surprisingly well in modern homes as a counterpoint to minimalism.

For collectors, this is an opportunity to own early Hummel imagery in a form closer to the artist’s original vision than the figurines most people associate with her name.

Dealer Perspective

Early Hummel prints with visible dates from the 1930s are increasingly difficult to find in cohesive, presentable condition. Paired examples like this, especially when the dates span multiple years of the artist’s early career, are particularly desirable.

This is the work before the brand.

That distinction matters.