William Hiller (American, California 20th Century) Painting. Title - Asian Chinese Gentleman Scholar with Bird. Oil on canvas painting. Signed lower right W. Hiller 1929. Metal artists name tag on frame. Painting measures 28.5 inches high, 35.5 inches wide. Frame measures 36 inches high, 43 inches wide. In good condition, lower left corner has light touch up.

William Hiller was an American painter who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1887. He was the son of a prominent businessman, and his family was well-off, which allowed him to pursue his artistic interests. As a young man, Hiller studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and later at the Art Students League of New York. It was during this time that he developed his skills as a painter and became interested in the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements. After finishing his studies, Hiller moved to California in the early 1920s, where he became an active member of the local art scene. He was one of the founding members of the California Watercolor Society, an organization that was established in 1920 to promote watercolor painting as a fine art form. Hiller's paintings were exhibited in many galleries throughout California, and he quickly became known for his depictions of the California landscape. Hiller was a contemporary of many other prominent California artists, including Edgar Payne, Franz Bischoff, and Hanson Puthuff. He was also known to have collaborated with other artists, including Emil Kosa Jr., a fellow watercolorist who was also a member of the California Watercolor Society. Kosa and Hiller worked together on several murals for the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program that provided employment to artists during the Great Depression. In addition to his collaborations, Hiller was also known to have studied with some of the leading artists of his time. He spent time in Europe studying the works of the French Impressionists, and he was particularly influenced by the works of Claude Monet. Hiller also studied with American painters such as Frank Vincent DuMond and Charles Hawthorne, who were both known for their work in the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist styles. Hiller's painting style was characterized by bold colors and loose brushstrokes, which he used to capture the essence of his subjects. He often painted landscapes, particularly scenes of the California coastline, which he depicted in a way that conveyed the mood and atmosphere of the natural environment. His painting "Cottage on the Water, Coast of California" is a perfect example of this style, as it captures the rugged beauty of the California coast and the tranquility of the surrounding landscape. Despite his success as a painter, Hiller remained humble and dedicated to his craft throughout his career. He passed away in 1948, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful landscapes and a significant contribution to the American art scene. From Askart.com: Resident of North Hollywood in 1932. Source: Edan Hughes, author of the book Artists in California, 1786-1940 California Arts & Architecture list, 1932.

Condition is in the description