Artwork
White Beeches in Fall
White Beeches in Fall is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Christian Rohlfs. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The title explicitly identifies the subject matter as the white-barked beech trees set against the backdrop of the fall foliage.
White Beeches in Fall depicts a landscape scene featuring beech trees during the autumn season. Created by Christian Rohlfs in 1910, the work falls within the genre of landscape painting. The title explicitly identifies the subject matter as the white-barked beech trees set against the backdrop of the fall foliage.
As an oil on canvas painting, the work captures the seasonal transformation of the forest, focusing on the specific visual characteristics of these trees in autumn.
Technique & Style
White Beeches in Fall is an oil painting on canvas created in 1910 by Christian Rohlfs. The work measures 65 cm in height by 51 cm in width and belongs to the landscape genre, depicting a stand of beech trees in an autumnal setting. Executed in oil paint, the surface relies on a canvas support typical of early‑20th‑century easel painting.
The composition features a muted palette and simplified forms that convey the structural clarity characteristic of Rohlfs’s mature style. The painting has been part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C. since a 2020 gift.
History & Provenance
White Beeches in Fall was painted by Christian Rohlfs in 1910, executed in oil on canvas.
The documented ownership chain begins with a sale at Villa Grisebach in Berlin on 24 November 2000, where the painting appeared as lot 22. From there it entered the collection of Arnold A. Saltzman (1916–2014) and Joan R. Saltzman (1919–2019) of Sands Point, New York. In 2020 the Saltzmans gave the work to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains held.
The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it entered the collection as a gift in 2020 from Arnold A. and Joan R. Saltzman.
Its prior provenance includes a sale at Villa Grisebach, Berlin, on 24 November 2000, where it was lot 22.
Overview
Christian Rohlfs's White Beeches in Fall, created in 1910, is an oil-on-canvas landscape painting. This work exemplifies the artist's engagement with both Post-Impressionist techniques and the emerging German Expressionist movement. It captures a vibrant autumnal scene, showcasing Rohlfs's distinctive approach to color and form in depicting nature. The painting reflects his exploration of expressive brushwork during this pivotal period in his career.
Context
Christian Rohlfs, a significant German painter and printmaker, is recognized for his contributions to German Expressionism. While White Beeches in Fall was created during a period when he was deeply influenced by Post-Impressionist artists, it also demonstrates the nascent qualities of his later Expressionist work. This painting illustrates a transitional phase in his development, where he synthesized diverse stylistic elements to forge a unique artistic language.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Christian Rohlfs was a German painter and printmaker, one of the important representatives of German expressionism.
