Wenglein, Josef (1845-1919), Winter Landscape, circa 1900

Josef Wenglein(1845 Munich - 1919 Bad Tölz), Winter Landscape , circa 1900. Etching, 10 cm x 8.2 cm (image), 27 cm x 23.5 cm (frame), signed “J.[osef] Wenglein” lower left in the image. Framed under glass with passe-partout.

Strong print, minimal brown staining in the lower right area, otherwise in good condition. Attractively framed.

- The dynamism of winter tranquility -

We look out onto a winter landscape with a body of water and a row of houses. Our gaze does not wander into the distance, but remains where we seem to be standing. Nothing happens in the picture itself. Winter tranquility reigns, yet the scene has an enormous dynamism that transforms the landscape into a visual experience. The trees, houses, and body of water are formed with virtuoso strokes. The snow-covered landscape on the right side of the picture is evoked by a few confident strokes, while the sky is painted with dramatic strokes across the panel. We stand in the midst of a landscape event that brings us closer to the winter scenery.

About the artist

Joseph Wenglein was an important German landscape painter and one of the last great representatives of the Munich School. He began his training at the Munich Art Academy while studying law. He eventually switched entirely to painting and became a student of renowned artists such as Johann Gottfried Steffan and Adolf Heinrich Lier. Lier's focus on color and atmospheric depictions in particular had a decisive influence on Wenglein's style. He found his motifs almost exclusively in the vicinity of Munich, especially in the Isar region. He was known for his virtuoso ability to capture the changing light conditions and the specific gray tone of the air on the Bavarian plateau, especially in spring and fall. Wenglein, who was also a teacher of the later Impressionist Otto Reiniger, was awarded honorary citizenship of Bad Tölz for his work.