Austrian composer (1860–1911) whose epic symphonies redefined the genre and assured him a place among the most important and influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Exceedingly rare matte-finish 4 x 5 portrait of Mahler seated and looking contemplatively into the distance, boldly signed in the lower border in black ink, “Gustav Mahler.” Affixed to a larger 8 x 9.5 mount, bearing an ink date notation to reverse of September 29, 1909. In very good to fine condition, with overall foxing to the larger mount and slight spotting to image. Mahler left Vienna for Amsterdam on September 26, 1909, where he stayed with fellow conductor Willem Mengelberg, the principal conductor of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. This portrait was taken inside the Royal Concertgebouw building, where Mahler conducted two performances of his Seventh Symphony; another photograph taken at the same time shows Mahler sitting in this chair, surrounded by Mengelberg, Cornelis Dopper, Hendrik Freyer, and Alphons Diepenbrock. While in Amsterdam, Mahler conducted multiple performances of his Seventh Symphony, as well as a performance of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg, all of which were met with great success. In composing the Seventh Symphony, Mahler drew inspiration from Rembrandt's painting ‘The Night Watch,’ which he had seen many times at the Rijksmuseum during previous trips to Amsterdam. A magnificent portrait of the acclaimed composer with many important biographical associations.
