Lot 38027: FRANZ STRAHALM (American, 1879-1935) Landscape

FRANZ STRAHALM (American, 1879-1935) Landscape with Cactus and Trees Oil on canvas 25 x 32 inches (63.5 x 81.3 cm) Signed lower right: Franz Strahalm Born in Austria, Franz Strahalm studied painting in Vienna, Italy, England, France, and Mexico City, before coming to San Antonio, where he founded the San Antonio School of Fine Painting. He later settled in Dallas. Strahalm is best known for his landscapes, but also painted portraits and still lifes. This work is an excellent example of his large landscapes, characterized by vivid colors that invoke atmospheric qualities, like misty mornings or late afternoon light, and richly textured surfaces. The combination of impressionistic qualities and the rough, granular surface create a unique vision of the Texas landscape.