Rare antique oil painting by important WWI German artist Ernest Wilhelm Baumann (German American, 1862 - 1925) | Oil on Canvas | The painting is of a classical scene of war era expression, depicting a suffering family in the foreground tilling land manually while German soldiers can be seen in the background in the midst of a battle | The painting is master quality and captures the artist's vision of the suffering during the second world war | The painting is signed up side down on the front in the artist handwriting and dated 1916 | Housed in its original frame | Measures 62.5" W x 34.5" H. The painting is in very good condition, has some age related craquelure | Biography: Ernest Wilhelm Baumann was born in Berlin, Germany on July 12, 1862. By 1900, Baumann had immigrated to the U.S. After a few years in Houston, he settled in San Francisco. While painting he also served as an art Instructor. He died in San Francisco on Aug. 17, 1925. Source: Edan Hughes, author of the book "Artists in California, 1786-1940" | Who's Who in California 1928