VERSO
Label, The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Label, The Owings Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Western art historian Patricia Janis Broder wrote, “In 1925, Berninghaus became a permanent resident of Taos. He had lived and painted there part of each year for over twenty-five years and during the last ten years had spent at least six months each year in Taos. Although most of Berninghaus’ St. Louis commissions were historical representations based on research and poetic imagination, the majority of his Taos paintings depict the contemporary world of New Mexico. He was at once romantic and realist, poet and naturalist. He was not interested in ethnology or anthropology, but he was interested in the transformations of form and the variations of color that were the result of the ever-changing light of Taos.”

In a 1951 letter Berninghaus wrote, “I believe the powers that we have endowed each and every one of us with certain talents, ambitions and skills, some with more, some with less. And it is our obligation to do the best we can with the allotment assigned to us. I have tried to do the best I could with mine.”

PROVENANCE
The artist, ca. 1920s
Private collection, Chicago, Illinois, gifted to
The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
The Owings Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Private collection, New Mexico

Additional Resources

• Oscar Berninghaus’ Past Results
• View Condition Report

Condition ReportSurface is in good condition. Hairline cracks in sky. Spots of inpainting on Indian’s pants.

Important Notice: Statements of condition are provided as a service to potential bidders; such statements are educated opinions and should not be regarded as facts. The Coeur d’Alene Art Auction has no responsibility for any errors or omissions.