Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

American, 1857-1927

Edward Henry Potthast was born in Cincinnati in 1857, the son of a German cabinetmaker. Along with contemporaries Frank Duveneck and John Henry Twachtman, Potthast eventually became one of the most significant artists to emerge from the burgeoning art milieu of Cincinnati during the nineteenth century. Potthast received his early art training at the McMicken School of Design in Cincinnati while supporting himself as a lithographer and illustrator. In the fall of 1882, he traveled to Antwerp in the company of fellow artists Joseph Henry Sharp and Charles Haider. After a brief period of instruction in the studio of Charles Veriat, he went on to Munich. During the next three years he studied under Nicolas Gysis, Ludwig von Loefftz and possibly, Carl Marr. Returning to Cincinnati in 1885, he resumed work as a lithographer and took evening classes at the Cincinnati Museum Association. He went to Europe again in 1887 and for the next few years divided his time between Munich and Paris. In 1889 or 1890, he visited Grez. Although he had concentrated on figure painting while in Munich, a meeting with the American Impressionist painters Robert Vonnoh and Roderick O'Conor in Grez, prompted him to turn to landscape subjects and a lighter, more colorful palette. Potthast returned to Cincinnati around 1892, where he continued to work as a lithographer. In 1896, he moved to New York City, free-lancing for such popular magazines as Scribner's and Century and painting in his spare time. He soon became a lively figure in New York art circles, exhibiting and receiving numerous awards and prizes at the National Academy of Design, the Society of American Artists and the American Water Color Society. After developing a steady clientele for his paintings (he had dealers in Chicago and Cincinnati as well as New York), he was able to give up his work as a lithographer entirely. Potthast was the first Cincinnati-based artist to work in the Impressionist mode. Although he continued to paint landscapes throughout his career, after his move to New York, he became renowned for his optimistic, sun-drenched beach scenes in which he combined the vivid colors of Impressionism with the strong brushwork of the Munich School. Among his favorite sites were Coney Island and Rockaway Beach, both readily accessible from New York City. He also took frequent trips along the New England coast, stopping frequently at Ogunquit, Maine. His other painting locales included the Grand Canyon and the Canadian Rockies, where he sought in search of new sketching material.

Artist: Edward Henry Potthast

Edward Henry PotthastWading, Impressionist Oil on Board Painting, Late 19th Century, Signed

$285,000

Wading, Impressionist Oil on Board Painting, Late 19th Century, Signed

By Edward Henry Potthast

Located in New York, NY

EDWARD HENRY POTTHAST (American, 1857-1927) Wading oil on board signed E. Potthast, l.l. 11 1/4 x 15 1/2 in. (18 1/2 x 22 1/2 in.) Provenance: Traxel Art Galleries, Cincinnati,...

Category

Late 19th Century Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Edward Henry Potthast“Girl in water”

$3,500

“Girl in water”

By Edward Henry Potthast

Located in Warren, NJ

Edward Potthast (1857-1927) Pastel on paper painting signed. In good condition measures 26x23.

Category

19th Century Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Pastel

Reynolds Beal"Moonlight Harbor" Reynolds Beal, Early 20th Century, Impressionist Nocturne, 1906

$5,500

H 10.25 in W 14.25 in

"Moonlight Harbor" Reynolds Beal, Early 20th Century, Impressionist Nocturne

By Reynolds Beal

Located in New York, NY

Reynolds Beal Moonlight Harbor, 1906 Estate stamp on the reverse Oil on artist board 6 3/8 x 9 3/8 inches Provenance The artist Estate of the artist Royal Galleries, New Jersey, 196...

Category

Early 1900s American Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Richard SigafoosAntique American 1910 Oil on board Painting Seashore Island Beach Women framed, 1920

$1,800

H 12 in W 14 in

Antique American 1910 Oil on board Painting Seashore Island Beach Women framed

Located in Buffalo, NY

This evocative oil painting by Richard Sigafoos presents a solitary coastal rock formation rising against a softly illuminated seascape. Rendered with confident, expressive brushwork...

Category

1920s American Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Christopher Willett 1"Almost Home" Solebury Bucks County PA Twilight Snow Scene Oil Painting Framed, 20th Century

$1,800

H 7.25 in W 9.25 in D 1 in

"Almost Home" Solebury Bucks County PA Twilight Snow Scene Oil Painting Framed

By Christopher Willett 1

Located in New York, NY

Impressionist winter pastoral scene of a quaint snow covered home by Solebury, Bucks County PA. Willett has portrayed this charming scene in a most intimate, yet energetic way, and h...

Category

20th Century American Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Samuel David LandauCountry Road

$2,000

H 22 in W 18 in

Country Road

Located in Sheffield, MA

Samuel David Landau American, 1895-1979 Country Road Oil on board 12 by 15 ¾ in, w/ frame 18 by 22 in Signed lower right Samuel David Landau was born in Warsaw, Poland, and emigrat...

Category

20th Century Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Christopher Willett 1"Along The Creek" Point Pleasant Pike Bucks County Bucks County PA River Snow, 20th Century

$2,500

H 13 in W 15 in D 1.25 in

"Along The Creek" Point Pleasant Pike Bucks County Bucks County PA River Snow

By Christopher Willett 1

Located in New York, NY

A wonderful Impressionist winter pastoral scene of colorful quaint homes by the river. Willet has portrayed this piece in a most intimate, yet energetic way, and has packed much feel...

Category

20th Century American Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

American School Farmhouse, 20th Century, c. Early 20th Century

$500

H 18.5 in W 17.125 in D 0.625 in

American School Farmhouse, 20th Century

Located in New York, NY

Mystery Artist Untitled (Farmhouse), c. Early 20th Century Oil on board 8 1/2 x 17 in. Framed: 14 7/8 x 23 3/8 x 3/4 in.

Category

Early 20th Century American Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Pierre NeveuMother and Child in Garden by Pierre Neveu French Figurative Signed Oil Painting, 1955

$1,687

H 29 in W 24 in

Mother and Child in Garden by Pierre Neveu French Figurative Signed Oil Painting

By Pierre Neveu

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Mother and Child in Garden by Pierre Neveu French Figurative Oil Painting by Pierre Neveu (1920–1998), French signed and dated 1955 lower right oil on canvas, unframed Canvas: 29 x ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Color Pencil

George Oberteuffer"Untitled (Coastal Cliffs, Brittany)" George Oberteuffer, Impressionist, Sea, circa 1912

$12,000

H 22 in W 28.5 in

"Untitled (Coastal Cliffs, Brittany)" George Oberteuffer, Impressionist, Sea

Located in New York, NY

George Oberteuffer Untitled (Coastal Cliffs, Brittany), circa 1912 Oil on canvasboard 15 x 21 1/2 inches Born in Philadelphia, George Oberteuffer is best remembered for his Impress...

Category

1910s American Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

Reginald K. Gee"Image, " Abstract Figurative Acrylic & Pastel on Paper, signed Reginald K. Gee, 1985

$3,250

H 19 in W 25 in

"Image, " Abstract Figurative Acrylic & Pastel on Paper, signed Reginald K. Gee

By Reginald K. Gee

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Image" is an original acrylic and pastel painting on paper by Reginald K. Gee. The artist initialed the piece on the back. It features abstracted, simplified figures and faces in fr...

Category

1980s Contemporary Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Acrylic

Christopher Willett 1"Road Through Point Pleasant PA" Bucks County Pastoral Snow Scene Landscape, 20th Century

$1,800

H 9 in W 11 in D 1.25 in

"Road Through Point Pleasant PA" Bucks County Pastoral Snow Scene Landscape

By Christopher Willett 1

Located in New York, NY

A charming Impressionist winter snow-covered pastoral scene depicting "Road Through Point Pleasant PA" Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This piece is executed in an intimate yet energetic...

Category

20th Century American Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Jeff Slemons"The Arena" - Expressionist Soft Pastel Painting on Sanded Paper, 2025

$1,200

H 10 in W 8 in

"The Arena" - Expressionist Soft Pastel Painting on Sanded Paper

By Jeff Slemons

Located in Denver, CO

Artist Statement: "What was she thinking to herself as she waited to go out into the open arena and perform. I had no idea of course. I could only imagine the adrenaline surge that s...

Category

2010s Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pastel

Olof ArboreliusImpressionist Oil on Paper: Man Crossing a Stream, Late 19th Century, late 1800s

$2,204

H 11.62 in W 10.04 in

Impressionist Oil on Paper: Man Crossing a Stream, Late 19th Century

By Olof Arborelius

Located in Stockholm, SE

oil on paper mounted on cardboard unframed 18.5 × 14.5 cm (7.3 × 5.7 in) framed 29.5 × 25.5 cm (11.6 × 10 in) signed with monogram “OA” Provenance: From the artist’s estate; by desc...

Category

Late 19th Century Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board, Laid Paper

Previously Available Items

Edward Henry PotthastBathers on the beach - American Impressionist Figurative Oil by Edward Potthast, c.1910

Sold

H 19 in W 22.5 in

Bathers on the beach - American Impressionist Figurative Oil by Edward Potthast

By Edward Henry Potthast

Located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire

Signed oil on canvas figures in landscape circa 1910 by American impressionist painter Edward Henry Potthast. The work depicts nude bathers at the beach on a sunny day. Two are paddl...

Category

1910s American Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Edward Henry Potthast figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Edward Henry Potthast figurative paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Edward Henry Potthast in oil paint, paint, panel and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 19th century and is mostly associated with the Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Edward Henry Potthast figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 16 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Herman Hyneman, Albert Van Nesse Greene, and Leigh Ann Van Fossan.