Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

American, 1907-1992

Aaron Bohrod's work has not been limited to one style or medium. Initially recognized as a regionalist painter of American scenes, particularly of his native Chicago, Bohrod later devoted himself to detailed still-life paintings rendered in the trompe l'oeil style. He also worked for several years in ceramics and wrote a book on pottery. Born in 1907, Bohrod began his studies at Chicago's Crane Junior College in 1925, and two years later enrolled in the Art Institute of Chicago. But it was at the Art Students League in New York City, from 1930 to 1932, that he studied under the man believed to be his most significant early influence, John Sloan. Sloan's romantic realism is reflected in the many depictions of Chicago life, which comprised most of Bohrod's early work. Under Sloan's tutelage, Bohrod came to subscribe to the belief that painters should find the subjects of their art in the immediate world around them. These paintings emphasized architecture unique to north Chicago and featured Chicagoans engaged in such everyday activities as working, playing or going to the theatre. The romantic aspect was conveyed by the use of misty colors, and the realism by attention to detail. In 1936, Bohrod won the Guggenheim Fellowship award in creative painting. It enabled him to travel the United States, producing similar regionalist paintings on a much broader range of subjects. Nevertheless, most of his early work centered on Chicago and the urban Midwest. In 1943, Bohrod was commissioned by editors of Life magazine to cover the battlefronts as a war correspondent and artist. Three years later, Bohrod was invited to become the Artist in Residence at the University of Wisconsin, a position that became vacant with the unexpected death of John Steuart Curry. He would remain at the University from 1948 to his retirement in 1973. Then, quite atypically, fantasy started to appear in his work. Elements of Surrealism, supposedly inspired by his concurrent involvement in ceramics with F. Carlton Ball, began influencing his landscapes. By 1953, Bohrod had completely ceased painting landscapes, turning instead to often symbolic still-life subjects. He abandoned his earlier romantic realism to paint in the luminous trompe l'oeil tradition of William Harnett. Bohrod continued to produce these meticulously crafted fantasies exclusively. While in his position at the University of Wisconsin, Bohrod painted covers for Time magazine and authored two books, A Pottery Sketch-book (1959) and A Decade of Still Life (1966), in which are produced many of his trompe l'oeil paintings.

Artist: Aaron Bohrod

Aaron Bohrod"Industrial Cityscape, Chicago" WPA Modernism Mid-Century Cityscape 20th Century, 1931

$16,000

"Industrial Cityscape, Chicago" WPA Modernism Mid-Century Cityscape 20th Century

By Aaron Bohrod

Located in New York, NY

"Industrial Cityscape, Chicago" WPA Modernism Mid-Century Cityscape 20th Century Aaron Bohrod (American 1907 – 1992) Industrial Cityscape 20 x 16 inches Oil on board Signed lower ri...

Category

1930s American Modern Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Aaron BohrodOil on Masonite Painting Titled "Lobster Shack", by Aaron Bohrod, 1938, 1938

$85,000

Oil on Masonite Painting Titled "Lobster Shack", by Aaron Bohrod, 1938

By Aaron Bohrod

Located in New York, NY

Aaron Bohrod, 1907-1992 Lobster Shack, 1938 Oil on masonite 16 x 20 inches Signed and dated ower left: Aaron Bohrod 1938 Bohrod-3 Provenance: Private estate, Rhode Island, 2004 Am...

Category

1930s Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Aaron BohrodGouache on Board Painting Titled "Barbecue Stand", by Aaron Bohrod, circa 1935, Circa 1935

$85,000

Gouache on Board Painting Titled "Barbecue Stand", by Aaron Bohrod, circa 1935

By Aaron Bohrod

Located in New York, NY

Aaron Bohrod, 1907-1992 Barbecue Stand, circa 1935 Gouache on board Signed Lower left: “Aaron Bohrod” Inscribed and signed on verso Bohrod-1 Provenance: Private estate, Rhode Island...

Category

1930s Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Judd Mercer"Rosebud" - Original Gouache Painting on Paper, 2025

$500

H 6 in W 8 in D 1 in

"Rosebud" - Original Gouache Painting on Paper

By Judd Mercer

Located in Denver, CO

“Rosebud” is a plein air painting by Judd Mercer, created on location at the Denver Botanic Gardens in Denver, Colorado, USA. The piece highlights blooming roses and surrounding gard...

Category

2010s Impressionist Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

J. MesidorA Haitian Country Scene

$850

H 20 in W 24 in D 8 in

A Haitian Country Scene

Located in San Francisco, CA

Haitian artist Jacksin Mésidor painted this from his Caribbean coastal hometown of Cap-Haitien in the north of his native land. As Haitian folk art, the painting delivers an archityp...

Category

20th Century Folk Art Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Albert Heckman"Woodstock Landscape" Albert Heckman, American Modernist, Atmospheric Valley, circa 1940s

$3,000

H 10 in W 8 in

"Woodstock Landscape" Albert Heckman, American Modernist, Atmospheric Valley

By Albert Heckman

Located in New York, NY

Albert Heckman Woodstock Landscape Oil on board 10 x 8 inches Albert Heckman was born in Meadville, Western Pennsylvania, 1893. He went to New York City to try his hand at the art ...

Category

1940s American Modern Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Harold HaydonA Unique, Surrealist 1960s Mid-Century Modern Chicago City Scene with Figures, 1968

$1,100

H 12.25 in W 15.5 in D 1 in

A Unique, Surrealist 1960s Mid-Century Modern Chicago City Scene with Figures

By Harold Haydon

Located in Chicago, IL

A Unique, Lively 1960s Surrealist Mid-Century Modern Abstract City Scene by Notable Chicago Artist, Harold Haydon (Am. 1909-1994). Titled "Figures in a City Street", depicting an ab...

Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Albert Heckman"Woodstock Landscape" Albert Heckman, Modernist, Bright Landscape, circa 1940s

$3,000

H 8.5 in W 10.5 in

"Woodstock Landscape" Albert Heckman, Modernist, Bright Landscape

By Albert Heckman

Located in New York, NY

Albert Heckman Woodstock Landscape Oil on board 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches Albert Heckman was born in Meadville, Western Pennsylvania, 1893. He went to New York City to try his hand at ...

Category

1940s American Modern Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Francis ChapinA Delightful Modern '40s Mexican Cathedral & Garden Scene, San Miguel de Allende, Circa 1940

$1,200

H 23.5 in W 16.75 in D 1 in

A Delightful Modern '40s Mexican Cathedral & Garden Scene, San Miguel de Allende

By Francis Chapin

Located in Chicago, IL

A delightful 1940s Modern Mexican city garden scene of San Miguel Allende by famed Chicago artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Depicting a quiet, picturesque view of the city ga...

Category

1940s American Modern Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Francis ChapinA Colorful, 1950s Modern Painting, Sailing Off the Coast of Martha's Vineyard, Circa 1950

$1,200

H 13.75 in W 17.75 in D 1.5 in

A Colorful, 1950s Modern Painting, Sailing Off the Coast of Martha's Vineyard

By Francis Chapin

Located in Chicago, IL

A colorful, blustery painting of sailing off the coast of Martha's Vineyard by famed Chicago Modern artist, Francis Chapin. Painted in the early 1950s, the painting depicts a vibran...

Category

1930s American Modern Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Harold HaydonA Charming Vintage 1930s Forest Landscape, Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, 1933

$850

H 12 in W 16 in D 1 in

A Charming Vintage 1930s Forest Landscape, Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada

By Harold Haydon

Located in Chicago, IL

A charming, vintage 1930s Modern forest landscape scene painted in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada by notable Chicago artist, Harold Haydon. Many of Haydon's early landscape paintin...

Category

1930s American Modern Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Judd Mercer"Hold Firm" - Original Gouache Landscape Painting on Paper, 2025

$500

H 6 in W 8 in

"Hold Firm" - Original Gouache Landscape Painting on Paper

By Judd Mercer

Located in Denver, CO

“Hold Firm” is a plein air painting by Judd Mercer, created on location in Laguna Beach, California, USA. The piece captures the coastal rock formations and breaking waves along the ...

Category

2010s Impressionist Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Pierre Eugène MontezinRue Royale

$128,771

H 27 in W 36 in D 2 in

Rue Royale

By Pierre Eugène Montezin

Located in Belgravia, London, London

Gouache on paper, Paper size: 16 x 25.5 inches Framed size: 27 x 36 inches Signed lower right

Category

20th Century Impressionist Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Gunnar AndersonAmerican West Mountainscape by Gunnar Anderson, c. 20th Century

$2,300

H 20.5 in W 24.5 in D 1.25 in

American West Mountainscape by Gunnar Anderson

Located in New York, NY

Gunnar Donald Anderson (American, 1927-2022) Untitled, c. 20th Century Oil on board Sight: 11 1/2 x 15 3/4 in. Framed: 20 1/2 x 24 1/2 x 1 1/4 i...

Category

20th Century American Modern Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Judd Mercer"Shoreline Shade" - Original Gouache Landscape Painting on Paper, 2025

$500

H 6 in W 8 in

"Shoreline Shade" - Original Gouache Landscape Painting on Paper

By Judd Mercer

Located in Denver, CO

“Shoreline Shade” is a plein air painting by Judd Mercer, created on location in Long Beach, California, USA. The piece captures a sunlit shoreline with tree shadows cast across the ...

Category

2010s Impressionist Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Previously Available Items

Aaron Bohrod"The Kiosk, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago" Aaron Bohrod, WPA Midwestern Regionalism, 1932

Sold

H 27 in W 22 in

"The Kiosk, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago" Aaron Bohrod, WPA Midwestern Regionalism

By Aaron Bohrod

Located in New York, NY

Aaron Bohrod The Kiosk, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, 1932 Signed and dated lower right Watercolor on paper 17 x 12 inches Provenance: The artist Everett Oehlschlager Galleries, Chicag...

Category

1930s American Realist Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Aaron BohrodSatyr, circa 1950

Sold

H 17.125 in W 14.125 in

Satyr

By Aaron Bohrod

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Satyr" is an original oil painting on gesso panel by Aaron Bohrod. The artist signed the piece by writing his name in a strip of silk in the painting as well as depicting himself in...

Category

1950s Photorealist Aaron Bohrod Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Aaron Bohrod figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Aaron Bohrod figurative paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Aaron Bohrod in paint, oil paint, board and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 1930s and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Aaron Bohrod figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 19 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Mervin Jules, Emanuel Glicenstein Romano, and Harold Haydon. Aaron Bohrod figurative paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $12,800 and tops out at $85,000, while the average work can sell for $85,000.