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While conducting our technical study of the painting, we found a fingerprint, which could be Otto Dix’s, impressed on the picture’s surface beside the tiepin. This finding confirms a working procedure that the artist commonly used to adjust the details: smearing the paint with his hand to soften or blend colours.

During this process we also discovered two holes in the upper corners of the work. Located on either side, they were possibly made by the metal tacks used to hold in place the cartoon with the preliminary drawing that Dix may have transferred to the final support by means of tracing.  al.