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Paul Kauver Smith
Colorado Hill Town with Storm Clouds, 1940s Modernist Landscape, Lush Green

circa 1940

$3,650
£2,769.54
€3,166.72
CA$5,098.06
A$5,668.35
CHF 2,959.70
MX$68,997.61
NOK 37,764.47
SEK 35,383.51
DKK 23,633.79
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About the Item

This WPA-era signed oil painting by Paul K. Smith captures a stormy summer landscape in Colorado, featuring houses and lush trees under dramatic storm clouds. Painted in rich shades of green, yellow, gray, blue, and brown, this modernist masterpiece reflects Smith’s signature style—bold color, expressive brushwork, and a deep connection to the landscape. The painting is presented in a custom frame, with outer dimensions of 29 x 33 x 1 ¼ inches and an image size of 23 ¾ x 28 inches, making it a stunning focal point for any collection. Provenance: Estate of the artist, Paul K. Smith About the Artist: Paul K. Smith (1893-1977) A key figure in Denver’s modernist movement, Paul Kauver Smith studied commercial art and design at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts from 1915-1916. His studies were briefly interrupted by World War I, but he later resumed his education at Washington University in St. Louis. In 1921, Smith moved to Colorado to study under John E. Thompson, the pioneer of modernism in Denver, at the Denver Academy of Fine and Applied Arts. By 1923, Smith was not only exhibiting at the Denver Art Museum but was also hired as an instructor at the Academy. His early recognition led to two solo exhibitions, and his work became part of the museum’s prestigious Anne Evans collection. In 1959, the Denver Art Museum reproduced one of his most celebrated paintings, Houses at Victor, for their Western Heritage exhibition catalog. Smith was a permanent Denver resident and an active member of multiple artistic organizations, including American Artists Professional League, Colorado and Denver Art Guilds, as well as The Colorado Fifteen – an influential avant-garde collective founded in 1948 that shaped Denver’s modernist art scene. With his bold artistic vision and dedication to modernist expression, Paul K. Smith remains a celebrated name in 20th-century American art.
  • Creator:
    Paul Kauver Smith (1893 - 1977, American)
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1940
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Width: 33 in (83.82 cm)Depth: 1.25 in (3.18 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Frame Included
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
    Painting is clean and in good vintage condition - condition report available upon request.
  • Gallery Location:
    Denver, CO
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: DCG-129221stDibs: LU273914473

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