Oil on canvas
Germany, 1951
Claus Bergen (1885-1964) – German marine and landscape painter and illustrator
Signed and dated ‘CLAUS BERGEN 1951’ lower right
With inscription/dedication ‘Fam. Hans Gräber. Greetsiel.’ on the reverse
Inscribed, titled and dated on the stretcher ‘No. 27 Vor dem Sturm CLAUS BERGEN 1951’
Dimensions: 60 x 80 cm
Provenance: Private collection, Slovenia
View of the open sea when the waves under the gathering storm strengthened; his paintings achieve up to €14,100 on the auction market

Claus Bergen created this painting in 1951. Since World War I, Bergen, who was active as a war artist in the Navy, devoted himself to the representation of maritime motifs, which he took up again in his late work. During this period he created mainly views of the open sea, as exemplified in the present work. Her the waves begin to bluster under an overcast sky; as storm is approaching. With a masterly spirited brushwork Bergen was able to capture the beauty of this threatening force of nature.



The painting is signed and dated lower right ‘CLAUS BERGEN 1951’. It is in good condition, partially with fine craquelure. There are some areas of retouching to the sky and some scattered retouchings to the waves. The frame shows signs of wear. The framed work measures 70.5 x 90 cm, the stretcher frame measures 60 x 80 cm.



Claus Bergen (1885-1964)

Claus Bergen studied at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts with Carl von Marr. He went on study trips to England and in the United States. Bergen worked as a war painter of the High Seas Fleet and was honored with several awards for his work. His circa 450 illustrations for Karl May's ‘Illustrierte Reiseerzählungen’ (Ilustrated Travel Stories) are less known. The German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven paid tribute to his life's work with a retrospective held in 1982. (tfa)

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