This lot consists of an oil painting on board, done in the Expressionist style of Alfons Walde (Austrian, 1891-1958). A hand-painted inscription at lower left corner reads, "A. Walde". Framed piece measures approximately 21.25" x 17.25", with an approximate image sight of 16.5" x 12.5".

In this stunning work, frozen, sun-drenched earth cascades through the mist from snow-capped peaks to the rooftop of a snug Alpine lodge. The foreground is populated by the figure of a woman, with a hush and a stillness that blankets the whole scene. An enveloping and majestic winter landscape.

Alfons Walde (Austrian, 1891-1958) was an architect, graphic designer, and publisher who enjoyed runaway success as a landscape artist with snowy depictions of his native Tyrolian mountains. Walde studied architecture in Vienna from 1910 to 1914, during which time he moved in the same artistic circles as Egon Schiele (German, 1890-1918) and Gustav Klimt (Austrian, 1862-1918). Walde first exercised his artistic prowess in the areas of tempera and watercolor paint, focusing his subject matter on the people of the high mountain regions, their farms, and the houses they inhabited. As Walde's success grew, he established his own printing company in order to quickly replicate his own original works. He printed his pictures as posters and postcards, making them easily marketable to the general public. From 1946 on, Walde dedicated himself to architectural work. It was, however, his sweeping Alpine landscapes that secured Alfons Walde the perfectly befitting title of the "magic realist".
PROVENANCE:
Private Collection

DIMENSIONS:
Overall framed approx. 21.25" x 17.25"; image sight approx. 16.5" x 12.5".



PLEASE NOTE: Lots that do not carry established documented provenance nor any past auction record are described in this catalog as "in the style of". Authentication has not been established nor is it implied. Definition of "in the style of" is as follows:

"In the style of" [Artist Name] : The work may be ascribed to the artist on the basis of style, but there may be some question as to actual authorship.

Overall good condition. Little to no paint loss, discoloration, or other aesthetic damage. Frame is structurally sound, with minimal evidence of wear. Please see photos for additional detail.