Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Constantin Kluge
Spring

About the Item

Spring Constantin Kluge (Russian, Latvian, 1912-2003) Signed Lower Right 29.5 x 36.5 inches 36.5 x 44 inches framed He was born in Riga, Latvia, on January 29, 1912 to Russian parents. His father was a graduate of the Polytechnic Institute of Riga and his mother a Professor of Literature. Kluge's father was drafted into the Czar's army in 1914. Then the chaos of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution and the ensuing Civil War completely uprooted the family. They moved frequently, always eastward, arriving in Manchuria in 1920. Here the little boy learned to speak Mandarin. In 1925 the émigré family moved again, this time to the French "concession" of Shanghai, where Kluge would graduate from the French Municipal High School. By the time he was seventeen, he was a very active member of the Shanghai Art Club. At this period of his life he also took up the violin and cello, and later in Paris gave music lessons to help meet his expenses. Meanwhile, his parents had decided that pure art was not a dependable career, and so in 1931 Kluge left Shanghai for Paris to study architecture. He spent six years at the E'cole des Beaux-Arts and in 1937 graduated with the title of French Government Architect. The years spent studying and living in the Latin Quarter of Paris had created in Kluge a strong attachment to the characteristic scenes of Paris, and, instead of returning immediately to Shanghai and his family, he stayed on in Paris for six months painting views of Paris in oils, purely to portray and preserve the scenes he so loved. The childhood years spent in the Orient had contributed to his love of painting. His professor of Chinese had taught him, from the age of ten, a respect for the handling of the brush, and the attitude of the Orientals toward the beauties of nature drew the young artist to the depiction of beauty and away from the vogue for the ugly and sordid in painting. When Kluge returned to China, he practiced his profession of architecture for a time. But when his friends persuaded him to exhibit his paintings, the exhibitions were so successful and aroused such enthusiasm that Kluge felt that painting, his first love, could afford him a livelihood. Kluge spent the years of World War 11 in Shanghai convinced that he avoided trouble with the Japanese occupiers only because of the respect and love the Japanese people have for painting. In mid-1946 he accepted an architectural post in Hong Kong and continued to paint in his spare time. In March, 1950, amid rumors that the Chinese Communists might invade Hong Kong, Constantin Kluge left Asia for good and returned to his beloved Paris. Already a mature and successful painter by the time he reached Paris, it is not surprising that he won an award and considerable attention at the Paris Salon in 1951. Since that time he was a frequent exhibitor in the Salon shows, which proved to be his gateways to ever increasing public attention. Kluge was a member of the Societe' des Artistes Francais, and his works won prizes at their Salon. In 1961 he was awarded the Medaille d'Argent as well as the special Raymond Perreau prize given by the Taylor Foundation at the Salon. In 1962 he received the coveted Gold Medal of the Salon. In 1990, Kluge earned one of the most prestigious non-military awards bestowed by the French government: he was named a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur by the French Ministry of Culture. In 1991, Kluge was awarded the Grand Medal of the City of Senlis. Completely captivated by the many moods of Paris, Kluge became absorbed in painting this beautiful city. The gaiety and animation of the flower markets; the subtly pensive and poetic quiet areas along the Seine; the special quality of Paris sunshine in early spring; the quaintness yet sophistication of Pairis are wonderfully expressed in his widely varied compositions. His fascination with Paris is contagious and the viewer feels drawn into each Kluge painting. In addition to Paris scenes, Kluge has sought out quiet, picturesque harbor scenes where the colors of water and sails blend to form softly modulated patterns of great beauty and interest. As with his paintings along the Seine, Kluge's handling of water in these harbor scenes is unusually lovely and convincing. Probably due to his early architectural training, Kluge has in the past been primarily occupied with subjects which include buildings of many types, but pure landscape subjects intrigued him as well. In his country scenes of provincial France, where sunlight and changing atmospheric qualities present a new challenge, Kluge used the same subtlety and sensitive rendering of beauty found in his other work. It is interesting to find this capable painter rounding out his repertoire in such varied fashion. While Kluge continued to paint, he ws also a writer of considerable stature. His autobiography, Constantin Kluge (published in 1987), details his fascinating life and includes many color reproductions of his paintings. French art critics have declared that Constantin Kluge was a painter of poetic realism. Kluge painted without affectation, in a frank and straightforward style. His firm drawing and well-constructed forms are bathed in an atmosphere of subtle colors. He enjoyed painting and communicated that joy to the beholder.
  • Creator:
    Constantin Kluge (1912 - 2003, French)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 29.5 in (74.93 cm)Width: 36.5 in (92.71 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Missouri, MO
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU747314223872

More From This Seller

View All
Avenue de Friedland, L’Arc de Triomphe
By Édouard Leon Cortès
Located in Missouri, MO
Framed Size: 21 x 26 inches *This work has been authenticated by Nicole Verdier Provenance: Johnson Gallery, Chicago IL, circa 1967/1968 Cortès was born in Lagny, France on April 26, 1882. During his early lifetime, Paris was the center of the art world. Artist from across the globe traveled there to study and paint it's beautiful countryside and cities; views of Paris, or as it became known 'the City of Lights', were in great demand by both collectors and tourists. Édouard Cortès, along with other artists like Eugene Galien-Laloue (1854-1941), Luigi Loir (1845-1916) and Jean Beraud (1849-1936) answered their call. Specializing in Paris street scenes, each of these artists captured the city during its heyday and continued with these scenes well into the 20th century.Édouard was the son of Antonio Cortès - the Spanish Court painter - who was himself the son of the artisan André Cortès...
Category

Mid-20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Gray Brothers
By Charles Harold Davis
Located in Missouri, MO
Charles Harold Davis (1856-1933) "Gray Brothers" Oil on Canvas Signed Lower Left Canvas Size: 30 x 24 inches Framed Size: 35 x 30.5 inches Born in Amesbury, Massachusetts, Charles ...
Category

Late 19th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Fishing Pier - St. Ives, Cornwall
By Richard Hayley Lever
Located in Missouri, MO
Richard Hayley Lever (1876 - 1958) "Fishing Pier - St. Ives, Cornwall Oil on Canvas Canvas: approx 6 1/3 x 9 1/3 inches Framed Size: approx. 11 x 14 inches Born in Adelaide, Austr...
Category

Early 20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A Place in the Sun
By Carl Ivar Gilbert
Located in Missouri, MO
Carl Iver Gilbert (1882-1959) "A Place in the Sun" Oil on Canvas Signed Image: 10 x 12 inches Framed Size: 15 x 18.5 inches Carl Ivar Gilbert was a...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Boulevard de la Madaleine sous la Neige
By Antoine Blanchard
Located in Missouri, MO
Antoine Blanchard "Boulevard de la Madeleine sous la Neige" Oil on Canvas Signed Canvas Size: 13 x 18 inches Framed Size: approx 18 x 23 inches Antoine Blanchard French (1910-1988)
Category

Mid-20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The White Dress
By Francois Gerome
Located in Missouri, MO
Francois Gerome "The White Dress" c. 1940s/50 Oil on Canvas approx. 10 x 8 inches approx. 16 x 13 inches framed FRANCOIS GEROME French, 1895 Francois Ger...
Category

1940s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like

Rolling Hills near Banbury by Georgie Dowling, original painting, landscape art
Located in Deddington, GB
Rolling hills near Banbury by Georgie Dowling [2021] original and hand signed by the artist Oil paint on canvas Image size: H:40 cm x W:50 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:40 cm...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Centre Street, Nantucket
By Jan Pawlowski
Located in Greenwich, CT
Polish, b. 1949 Pawlowski was born in 1949 in Poland. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. In 1979 he was awarded his "authorization and certification" by the Ministry of Arts and Culture in Warsaw. This recognition is the ultimate achievement for Polish artists. Immediately after reaching this stature, Jan was in demand for numerous individual and collective exhibitions. From 1981 through part of 1988, he worked throughout Europe. During this time period he was invited to exhibit in Switzerland and in England where he had a one-man show. His travels brought him to the United States for a short vacation that has turned into his newfound home. His work was particularly well received in Michigan where he had three one-man shows, two of which were in Grosse Pointe and Harbor Springs...
Category

2010s Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Summer Field, Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang
By Vahe Yeremyan
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Vahe Yeremyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2024 Style: Impressionism, Title: Summer Field, Size: 14.5" x 17" x...
Category

2010s Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Trees in a Sunny, Landscape, Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang
By Vahe Yeremyan
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Trees Landscape, Impressionism, Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang Artist: Vahe Yeremyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year:...
Category

2010s Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Lin Hongdan Impressionist Original Oil Painting "Night 4"
Located in New York, NY
Title: Night 4 Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 40 x 30 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition. Year: 2000 Circa Artist: Lin Hongdan...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sola Puig Mountain Lanscape of Gerona original impressionist oil canvas
By Joan Sola Puig
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Mountain Lanscape of Gerona original impressionist oil canvas painting. framed Sola PUIG, Joan (Barcelona 1950 ) Joan SOLÁ paints in a natural way, which reflects the Old Masters, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Recently Viewed

View All