Skip to main content

Anton Refregier Paintings

American, 1905-1979

Anton Refregier was a painter and muralist active in Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project commissions, and in teaching art. He was a Russian immigrant to the United States. He is known, among other works, for his mural The History of California located in the Rincon Center, in downtown San Francisco, California. It depicts the state's history across 27 panels that he painted from 1940–48. The style of this historic mural had many of Refregier's key characteristics. The palette was composed of yellows, browns, and grays, punctuated by red in certain areas to evoke emotion. Earthy tones and the lack of bright colors remind viewers of the struggles and hardships he is depicting. Refregier also uses white to represent virtue in those inspired by a cause. His style is very flat and one-dimensional. Refregier uses solid blocks of color to denote shadows, along with depth and shade. His painting style appears to be very rudimentary and simple, but complex because of the way he uses color to evoke emotion and powerful images to tell a story. Refregier died in 1979 while in Moscow. Refregier was working on a mural for a medical center in his home city. The same year, his Rincon Mural was placed under the protection of the National Register of Historic Places.

to
1
1
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
11
787
690
650
578
2
2
Artist: Anton Refregier
Picnic, Modern Figurative Oil Painting by Anton Refregier
By Anton Refregier
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Anton Refregier Title: Picnic Year: 1959 Medium: Oil on Masonite, signed and dated l.r. Size: 24 x 44 inches (61 x 112 cm) Frame: 31.5 x 51.5 inches
Category

1950s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Oil

“Girl in the Grass”
By Anton Refregier
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil on canvas painting by Anton Refregier of a young girl resting in the grass. Signed upper right and dated 1962. Condition is very good. The painting is in its original oa...
Category

1960s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Related Items
ast Santa Cruz Landscape: Yellow Farmhouse with Storm Clouds Oil Painting
By Jon Blanchette
Located in Denver, CO
"East Santa Cruz (California)" is a captivating oil on canvas board by artist Jon Blanchette (1908-1987). The painting features a striking yellow farmhouse set against dark gray storm clouds, capturing the beauty and drama of the California landscape. The composition, with its bold contrast between the warm farmhouse and the looming storm, evokes a sense of both tranquility and tension. Presented in a custom frame, the outer dimensions of the painting measure 21 ¾ x 25 ¾ x 1 ½ inches, with the image size measuring 16 x 20 inches. This artwork is in very good vintage condition, reflecting the care and craftsmanship of its creation. Please contact us for a detailed condition report. Expedited and international shipping options are available—please reach out for a personalized shipping quote. About the Artist: Jon Blanchette, born on March 29, 1908, in Somerset, England, immigrated to Battle Creek, Michigan in 1918. He displayed artistic talent from a young age and went on to study at the Pittsburgh Art...
Category

1950s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Oil

1945 American Modern Oil Painting - Portrait of Artist's Wife with Fruit
By Hayes Lyon
Located in Denver, CO
This captivating 1945 oil painting by American artist Hayes Lyon portrays Bessy Lyon, the artist’s wife, in a warm and intimate portrait. The piece features soft yet vivid tones and ...
Category

1940s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Cruise Ship Rolls In" Mid 20th Century American Contemporary Modern Realism
Located in New York, NY
"Cruise Ship Rolls In" Mid 20th Century American Contemporary Modern Realism This is one sensational painting. And we can even identify the artist, but can't find anything about the...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Winter" American Modernism WPA Regionalism Landscape Mid-Century Magic Realism
By Dale Nichols
Located in New York, NY
"Winter" American Modernism WPA Regionalism Landscape Mid-Century Magic Realism. 30 x 40 inches. Oil on canvas, c. 1960s, Signed lower right. As we list the painting now, the work is currently being cleaned, restored and a hand carved frame is being built. Additional photos will be uploaded as soon as possible. Our gallery, Helicline Fine Art, just launched our new digital exhibition: American Art: The WPA and Beyond. Three dozen paintings, works on paper and sculptures which are available here on 1stDibs. In person viewings can be arranged by appointment at our midtown Manhattan gallery. Provenance: "Winter" was originally purchased by Stanley Byer. Mr. Byer owned homes in Key West, New York City, and Washington, D.C. He purchased the painting from Dunning Auction in 1984 in Elgin, Illinois. Mr. Byer was related to Abraham Weiss from Florida. Saul Babbin, now deceased was a cousin of Mr. Weiss. I purchased the painting from Joy Babbin, Mr. Babbin's wife, now living in from New Mexico. Dale Nichols (1905 – 1995) Artist, printmaker, illustrator, watercolorist, designer, writer and lecturer, Nichols did paintings that reflected his rural background of Nebraska where he was born in David City, a small town. Although he did much sketching outdoors, most of his paintings were completed in his studio and often included "numerology, magic squares...
Category

1960s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

NYC Subway Mid 20th Century Modern American Scene Social Realism Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
NYC Subway Mid 20th Century Modern American Scene Social Realism Contemporary David Atkins (1910 – 2012) Subway Train Departure 24 x 30 inches Oil on can...
Category

1960s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Morning Sunrise, Mid Century Laguna Hills Figurative Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful mid century plein air figural landscape of Laguna Niguel, California by an unknown artist (American, 20th Century). The morning sun gli...
Category

1950s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Vintage Abstract Expressionist Standing Pensive Figurative Nude - Heavy Impasto
Located in Soquel, CA
Vintage Abstract Expressionist Standing Pensive Figurative Nude - Heavy Impasto Abstract expressionist figurative composition of a nude woman by California artist Harald "Harry" Dr...
Category

1970s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars

Portrait of Harriet Toby, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
By Donald S. Vogel
Located in Dallas, TX
Donald Vogel’s paintings reflect his interest in seeking beauty in life and in sharing pleasure with his viewers. Vogel entreats us to "rejoice and celebrate each new day, knowing it...
Category

1940s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

1980s Autumn Harvest, Original Semi-Abstract Landscape Oil Painting with Figures
By Edward Marecak
Located in Denver, CO
This original oil painting, titled Autumn Harvest by Edward Marecak (1919-1993), was created in 1987. It features a stunning autumnal landscape, with seven women actively engaged in ...
Category

1980s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Artist's Apartment Mid-Century Fauvist Interior Scene Original Oil on Canvas
Located in Soquel, CA
The Artist's Apartment Mid-Century Fauvist Interior Scene Original Oil on Canvas Vibrant interior scene by Santa Cruz California artist Frances Rinaldo (American, b. 1943). A bright...
Category

1960s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars

"Chief Crazy Horse" Abstracted Fauvist Portrait with Heavy Impasto in Oil Paint
Located in Soquel, CA
Heavy Impasto Portrait of Chief Crazy Horse by Harald Dry Schmidt Abstract expressionist portrait of a man by California artist Harald "Harry" Dry Schmidt (American, 1933-1979). The...
Category

1970s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars

Mid Century Fauvist Portrait of Red Headed Woman
By Sydney Helfman
Located in Soquel, CA
Striking Fauvist portrait with a vibrant, high voltage color palette, featuring a green woman with red hair by Sydney Helfman (American, 1926-2010). Aut...
Category

1960s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil, Stretcher Bars

Previously Available Items
"Hop Scotch" Mid 20th Century Social Realism WPA Modern American Scene 1950s SF
By Anton Refregier
Located in New York, NY
"Hop Scotch" Mid 20th Century Social Realism WPA Modern American Scene 1950s SF, .30 1/4 x 22 1/4 inches. Signed and dated 1951 lower right. Provenance: ACA Gallery label verso. BIO Anton Refregier was born March 20, 1905 in Moscow, Russia. He immigrated to the United States in 1920. He received his artistic training from the Rhode Island School of Design*, Providence, Rhode Island, 1921-1925; studied abroad with the sculptor Nicolai Vassilief in Paris in 1920; and with Hans Hofmann in Munich, 1927. From 1934 to 1940, Refregier, living in New York City, worked on various WPA Federal Art Projects* as a teacher, supervising artist, and mural supervisor. His most famous work is arguably the mural project at San Francisco's Rincon Center, the costliest and one of the most controversial of all the WPA commissions. It is a multi-scene panorama* that sparked national debate because of its inclusion of controversial events in California history. Refregier found inspiration in tragic events, which is reflected in his Depression Era-WPA work...
Category

1950s American Realist Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

“Flowers and Radishes”
By Anton Refregier
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil pastel on archival paper drawing by Anton Refregier of flowers and radishes in a still life. Signed upper right. Circa 1965. Condition is good. Overall measurements fra...
Category

1960s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel, Archival Paper

LUMBERJACKS Hanging Sculpture Painting Ceramic Mid-Century Woodstock Men Working
By Anton Refregier
Located in New York, NY
LUMBERJACKS Hanging Sculpture Painting Ceramic Mid-Century Woodstock Men Working Anton Refregier (1905-1979) "Lumberjacks," Ceramic embedded plaster on masonite. 26 x 9 inches. Sign...
Category

1950s American Modern Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Ceramic, Plaster, Wood, Masonite

"Coulee Dam Construction" WPA Precisionist Industrial Figurative American Scene
By Anton Refregier
Located in New York, NY
Anton Refregier painting "Coulee Dam Construction, " a WPA era industrial American Scene oil painting, The figurative work is signed on the upper right Born in Moscow, Refregier stu...
Category

1930s American Realist Anton Refregier Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Anton Refregier paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Anton Refregier paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Anton Refregier in oil paint, paint, canvas and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Anton Refregier paintings, so small editions measuring 22 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Mervin Jules, Harold Vincent Skene, and William Harnden. Anton Refregier paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,875 and tops out at $13,000, while the average work can sell for $7,438.

Recently Viewed

View All