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ID #SA1226241
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£1,750
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Erwin Leopold Pohl, Portrait of a Woman with a Headscarf - Vintage Oil Painting
Brave Fine Art
for sale €2,048     $2,223
£1,750
Brave Fine Art

Brave Fine Art

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Erwin Leopold Pohl, Portrait of a Woman with a Headscarf - Vintage Oil Painting

1920 - 1940
For Sale by Brave Fine Art
Description

This mid-20th-century oil painting by Swiss artist Erwin Leopold Pohl (1896-1977) depicts a seated woman wearing a headscarf.

Dressed in simple everyday clothing, she sits quietly holding an open book, her head wrapped in a white scarf and her gaze meeting the viewer. Soft daylight falls across her face, bringing warmth to her flushed cheeks. Her grey blouse is enlivened by bright red buttons and a striking scarlet belt that contrasts with the muted background.

Perhaps the most engaging aspect of the painting is its sense of familiarity. One senses that the artist knew his sitter well. Her relaxed posture, the casually held book and the absence of any grand surroundings suggest someone observed in the course of everyday life.

Painted in the first year after the Second World War, the portrait also reflects a wider return to ordinary life. Across Europe, artists increasingly turned their attention away from conflict and towards quieter, more intimate subjects. There's a sense of stability at a moment when many people were rebuilding their lives.

Having studied in Vienna, Pohl later absorbed aspects of German Expressionism in Berlin. This range of influences led to a style which was underpinned by careful draughtsmanship while embracing a more painterly handling of colour and light.

Signed/dated in the upper left and held in a gilt frame with a delicate foliate design, which is possibly original.

Learn more about Erwin Leopold Pohl in our directory.

Medium: Oil on canvas

Overall size: 30½” x 39” / 78cm x 99cm

Year of creation: 1946

Labels & Inscriptions: Label on the back with details about the artist.

Provenance: Private collection, Germany.

Condition: Cleaned. Later stretcher. Frame in excellent condition.

Artist’s auction maximum: £4,000 achieved in 2004 for ‘Saxofonbläser’.

Our reference: BRV2356

Physical Dimensions
Height
99cm (38.98")
Width
78cm (30.71")
Depth
3cm (1.18")
Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this Vintage Oil Portrait Painting to the 1940s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1226241
Dealers Internal Reference
BRV2356
Description
This mid-20th-century oil painting by Swiss artist Erwin Leopold Pohl (1896-1977) depicts a seated woman wearing a headscarf.
“
Dressed in simple everyday clothing, she sits quietly holding an open book, her head wrapped in a white scarf and her gaze meeting the viewer.
Brave Fine Art

Soft daylight falls across her face, bringing warmth to her flushed cheeks. Her grey blouse is enlivened by bright red buttons and a striking scarlet belt that contrasts with the muted background.

fig 1. A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame.
fig 1. Erwin Leopold Pohl, Portrait of a Woman with a Headscarf - Vintage Oil Painting

Perhaps the most engaging aspect of the painting is its sense of familiarity. One senses that the artist knew his sitter well. Her relaxed posture, the casually held book and the absence of any grand surroundings suggest someone observed in the course of everyday life.

fig 2. A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame.
fig 2. Erwin Leopold Pohl, Portrait of a Woman with a Headscarf - Vintage Oil Painting

Painted in the first year after the Second World War, the portrait also reflects a wider return to ordinary life. Across Europe, artists increasingly turned their attention away from conflict and towards quieter, more intimate subjects. There's a sense of stability at a moment when many people were rebuilding their lives.

fig 3. A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame.
fig 3. Erwin Leopold Pohl, Portrait of a Woman with a Headscarf - Vintage Oil Painting

Having studied in Vienna, Pohl later absorbed aspects of German Expressionism in Berlin. This range of influences led to a style which was underpinned by careful draughtsmanship while embracing a more painterly handling of colour and light.

fig 4. A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame.
fig 4. Erwin Leopold Pohl, Portrait of a Woman with a Headscarf - Vintage Oil Painting

Signed/dated in the upper left and held in a gilt frame with a delicate foliate design, which is possibly original.

Learn more about Erwin Leopold Pohl in our directory.

Medium: Oil on canvas

Overall size: 30½” x 39” / 78cm x 99cm

fig 5. A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame.
fig 5. Erwin Leopold Pohl, Portrait of a Woman with a Headscarf - Vintage Oil Painting

Year of creation: 1946

Labels & Inscriptions: Label on the back with details about the artist.

Provenance: Private collection, Germany.

Condition: Cleaned. Later stretcher. Frame in excellent condition.

Artist’s auction maximum: £4,000 achieved in 2004 for ‘Saxofonbläser’.

Our reference: BRV2356

Height
99cm (38.98")
Width
78cm (30.71")
Depth
3cm (1.18")
Date of Manufacture

Brave Fine Art has dated this Vintage Oil Portrait Painting to the 1940s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1226241
Dealers Internal Ref
BRV2356
Brave Fine Art
Brave Fine Art
Sellingantiques verified Since Nov 2018

Exquisite antique paintings that capture the imagination.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Brave Fine Art Profile Page

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A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame.
1 / 7
Archive I A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame.

Erwin Leopold Pohl, Portrait of a Woman with a Headscarf - Vintage Oil Painting

Archive II A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame. View II
Archive III A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame. View III
Archive IV A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame. View IV
Archive V A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame. View V
Archive VI A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame. View VI
Archive VII A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame. View VII
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Brave Fine Art

Brave Fine Art
Telephone 01684 215986
Location
21 Enterprise Way
Arle Road
Cheltenham
Cotswolds
GL51 8LZ
United Kingdom

Under appointment only.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/bravefineart
Verified Since Nov 2018
Items For Sale 68
Items Sold 1,832
Brave Fine Art
Brave Fine Art
Verified Since Nov 2018
View Dealer Info
Location: 21 Enterprise Way, Arle Road, Cheltenham, Cotswolds, GL51 8LZ, United Kingdom, , Under appointment only.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/bravefineart
Verified
Nov 2018
For Sale
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Sold
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A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame.
Erwin Leopold Pohl, Portrait Of A Woman With A Headscarf - Vintage Oil Painting
Ref: SA1226241
A mid-century oil painting on canvas depicting a seated woman in a grey blouse, patterned headscarf, and red waistband holding a green book, set within a thin gilt frame.
Detail View 1
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Detail View 3
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FAQs

Mid-century figurative oil portraiture focuses on human subjects rendered with realistic proportions, expressive brushwork, and fashion reflecting the mid-20th-century era.

Artists during the 1940s typically used oil pigments on stretched linen or cotton canvas, secured onto wooden stretcher bars and framed in gilded or painted wood mouldings.

Authentic works feature artist signatures and dates, age-consistent canvas weaves or stretcher hardware, and subtle natural craquelure across the paint surface.

Hang the portrait as a focal piece above a sideboard or mantelpiece, or integrate it into a gallery wall alongside contemporary prints and modern light fixtures.

Position the artwork away from direct sunlight and fluctuating humidity, dust gently with a soft dry brush, and consult a professional restorer for varnish cleaning.
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