1: BIRGER SANDZEN (1871-1954) DUSK MOON OIL ON CANVAS 1912

Birger Sandzen (Kansas, 1871-1954)
(1912)
The pointillist technique landscape with rose-tinted clouds lit by an evening sun from the opposite horizon is accented by a rising moon reflected on water near colorful wildflowers, and signed lower right with a date of 1912.

This work is found untouched, and in the original frame of a Rococo style rarely seen on works by Birger Sandzen. The original backing, held in place by its original brown paper tape, and steel tacks, retains the early 20th century label 'Findlay Art Galleries, Inc. High Class Paintings, Kansas City Missouri.'

The artist's register at the Sandzen Memorial Gallery refers to paintings that Sandzen ''Sent to Findlay Art Gallery, Kansas City, Mo'', presumably on a consignment basis, though the notes do not elaborate.

Pointillism in the style seen here is a painting technique that Birger Sandzen was probably first exposed to around 1894 during his studies with Edmond Aman-Jean in Paris, just months before he emigrated to the United States. During his first 15 or so years in Kansas, Dr. Sandzen's style was closely aligned with what scholars refer to as the National Romantic painting movement in Sweden. It appears that around 1910 he began to paint canvases in the technique seen here. And on rare occasion he'd strengthen those compositions by including an enchanting moon hung just above the horizon at twilight.
Canvas measures 16 x 24 with a framed size of 26 x 32 inches.
Very good original untouched condition. There are no issues of punctures, tears, chips, flakes, losses, indentations, scratches, rubs, flakes, losses, replacements, relining or any other issue to any degree. The tacks and paper holding the backing board in place are the original. The surface is obviously toned with a layer of soiling from environment. Examination under UV light confirms the complete absence of inpainting or touch-up.
Provenance: Descended through a Kansas City family, this painting was previously owned by Thomas Greenwood MacLaughlin (1896-1990), whose grandfather was superintendent of the Kansas City School District from 1874 to 1913. His grandmother was a school teacher.Thomas MacLaughlin served in the United States Army observation balloon corps during World War I. Later, he and his twin brother, William Henry MacLaughlin, became president and secretary, respectively, of the Santa Fe Savings and Loan Association in Kansas City. Thomas later pursued a career in advertising and was a personal acquaintance of presidents Harry S Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
$60,000 - $90,000