5: BIRGER SANDZEN (1871-1954) COLORADO OIL ON CANVAS 1936

Birger Sandzén (1871-1954)
Scene from Rocky Mountain National Park (1936)
The complex, beautifully crafted composition of a high altitude lake and towering rock formations below mountain peaks is signed lower right front.

The Sandzen paintings card catalogue lists this work as number 1623 in the 1936 section, and indicates that the first owner was in Stockholm, Sweden.

This work is an excellent example of that distinctive and unique style Birger Sandzen developed, blending the techniques of impressionism and pointillism to build astounding canvases composed of 100s, perhaps 1000s, of individually applied brushstrokes to create powerful images.

The artist was probably first exposed to pointillism during his studies in Paris with Edmond Aman-Jean in 1894. Aman-Jean shared a painting studio with Georges Seurat who, along with the French painter Paul Signac, developed the painting method that became known as Pointillism. Many Sandzen paintings display the methodology of this technique, an approach to painting that Britannica defines as, ''the practice of applying small strokes or dots of colour to a surface so that from a distance they visually blend together.'' This certainly well describes the canvas offered here, in addition to four of the artist's early block prints up for bid in this auction as well.
The canvas measures 22 x 28 inches.
Very good condition, noting three 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch square areas of retouch in the area of the largest towering rock formation, otherwise 99%-plus original condition. There are no other areas of re-touch or inpainting. There are no areas of losses, no scratches, no loss of impasto, no damage or repair, the surface is very stable, no re-lining or replacement, original stretchers, very good condition with light surface grime upon close inspection.
$40,000 - $50,000