Early 20th-century German School, Town View with Evening Light - Vintage Oil Painting

1920 - 1940

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

This early-20th-century oil on canvas depicts a town gently lit by the last embers of the day. The sky is a swirl of tonal intrigue as a church spire juts through the horizontals. Smoke rises from a chimney, almost as a question mark set against grey.

The style of this work is synonymous with the post-impressionists - such as Paul Cézanne and Vincent Van Gogh. This disparate group of liberal thinkers sought to overcome the constraints of representing a subject faithfully in favour of portraying a feeling - a subjective glance upon the world around us. After all, what do any of us really see when our experiences are viewed through the filters of our own imagination?

By painting a feeling, the post-impressionists were painting themselves. Every work was a self-portrait. When we consider Van Gogh’s sunflowers, we learn more about the artist than we do about botany.

Here, in this view of a town, the artist is trying to capture more than aesthetic accuracy - they’re conveying a mood. The evening sky flickers and twists while the static rooftops converge into angular planes with bold lines. How do you feel? Perhaps there’s a sombre element? Or do you find peace?

Signed R Breitfeldt in the lower left and held within a later frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas

Overall size: 33” x 29” / 84cm x 74cm

Year of creation: c. 1930

Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.

Physical Dimensions

Height

74cm (29.13")

Width

84cm (33.07")

Depth

4cm (1.57")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1930s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA919453

Description

“

The style of this work is synonymous with the post-impressionists - such as Paul Cézanne and Vincent Van Gogh.

Brave Fine Art

This disparate group of liberal thinkers sought to overcome the constraints of representing a subject faithfully in favour of portraying a feeling - a subjective glance upon the world around us. After all, what do any of us really see when our experiences are viewed through the filters of our own imagination?

fig 1. Early 20th-Century German School, Town View With Evening Light - Vintage Oil Painting — fig 1. Early 20th-century German School, Town View with Evening Light - Vintage Oil Painting

By painting a feeling, the post-impressionists were painting themselves. Every work was a self-portrait. When we consider Van Gogh’s sunflowers, we learn more about the artist than we do about botany.

fig 2. Early 20th-Century German School, Town View With Evening Light - Vintage Oil Painting — fig 2. Early 20th-century German School, Town View with Evening Light - Vintage Oil Painting

Here, in this view of a town, the artist is trying to capture more than aesthetic accuracy - they’re conveying a mood. The evening sky flickers and twists while the static rooftops converge into angular planes with bold lines. How do you feel? Perhaps there’s a sombre element? Or do you find peace?