Ruth Grotenrath Art

American, 1912-1988

"The paintings of Ruth Grotenrath (1912-1988) speak more about the woman who created them than any of the most carefully chosen words. They are lively, colorful, warm, cheerful and composed. Ruth found beauty in most everything around her. Throughout her 50-year career, she tirelessly painted compositions of selected objects culled from her immediate surroundings. The orderliness of her arrangements and bright colors make these works genuinely uplifting. Although her paintings have a charm, and perhaps even an unmistakable femininity, they are never saccharine. They are filled with a sense of careful study and analysis. Viewing a number of her paintings serves as an open window into the private world of a woman with a distinct vision." — Dean Sobel, former Curator of Contemporary Art, Milwaukee Museum of Art

Ruth Grotenrath was married to artist Schomer Lichtner (1905–2006) in 1934. Ruth began as a classic regionalist and then worked into modernism and abstraction influenced by Japanese art and culture. Many of Ruth's works were of floral still lifes. She was influenced by the styles of Matisse and Van Gogh. In a Milwaukee Journal article of October 30th, 1966, Ruth quotes Pablo Picasso as saying, "The world is a marvelous spectacle . . . I do not seek, I find." For her own early work, she drew upon vital and broad 20th-century modern influences and for later work the sophisticated arts of Japan.

Together with her husband, Schomer, Ruth was part of a generation’s movement away from the influences of the German academies in Wisconsin. Being part of the Social Realist movement of the 1930s, she had studied everyday people and places for her themes, sometimes creating monumental expressions like the mural from the Hudson, Wisconsin Post Office, now exhibited in the Museum of Wisconsin Art. A recipient of the 2007 Wisconsin Visual Artist Lifetime Achievement Award, Ruth attended Milwaukee State Teachers College — today known as the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee — and also taught at Layton School of Art. A trip to Japan in the 1960s spurred her to paint images of everyday decorative household objects, employing oil and water media, gilt and silver leaf in her work. For many decades she produced and exhibited paintings, prints and textiles around the United States, winning many awards from venues ranging from the once-important Wisconsin State Fair art building to the buildings of the 1939 New York World’s Fair. A quote from the Wisconsin Architect magazine of January 1967 states: "Ruth Grotenrath’s theme is the celebration of sensuous loveliness in life and the world. Her paintings grow from awareness of beauty and readiness to be sculpted into joy." Grotenrath’s work is represented in collections of the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the John Michael Kohler Art Center, the West Bend Museum and in the collections of many individuals.

Artist: Ruth Grotenrath

Ruth Grotenrath'O'Tannenbaum' original color silkscreen signed on verso, Christmas tree, winter, c. 1947

$1,250

'O'Tannenbaum' original color silkscreen signed on verso, Christmas tree, winter

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

'O'Tannenbaum' (Artist's #30129) is an original color silkscreen print by Ruth Grotenrath, signed by the artist on verso. Influenced by the works of Expressionists like Henri Matisse and the woodblock prints of early modern Japanese artists like Katsushika Hokusai, Ruth Grotenrath's 'O'Tannenbaum' combines the expressive use of color of the former with the precision of the latter to create a Christmas card that is as vibrant as it is subtle. Depicting a pine tree decked with ornaments and stockings, Grotenrath has rendered the tree-topping star as a ball of flames to analogize the warmth and spirit of the holiday season. Original color silkscreen 6.625 x 4 inches, silkscreen 14.375 x 11.375 inches, frame Signed in screen on verso inside-letter Framed to conservation standards using archival materials including 100 percent rag matting and mounting materials, Museum Glass to inhibit UV damage and reduce glare, and housed in a gold finish wood frame. "The paintings of Ruth...

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1940s Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Ruth Grotenrath"Fir Tree, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath, c. 1955

$1,150

"Fir Tree, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Fir Tree" (Artist's #1516) is an original color silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath. The artist signed the piece with her initials lower left. This artwork depicts a white fir tree branch in white on red. 4 1/4" x 5 3/8" art 12" x 13" frame "The paintings of Ruth...

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1950s Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Ruth Grotenrath"Pine Tree, " Offset Black & White Lithograph by Ruth Grotenrath, 1969

$550

"Pine Tree, " Offset Black & White Lithograph by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Pine Tree" is an offset lithograph by Ruth Grotenrath, created for the Riveredge Nature Center, Inc. for their Artists for Conservation series. It depicts an elaborate drawing of a pine tree with branches growing in multiple directions and overlapping one another. 5" x 6 5/8" art 13 5/8" x 15 1/4" frame "The paintings of Ruth...

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1960s Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Lithograph

Ruth GrotenrathSmith Brothers Restaurant, ca. 1950

$1,700

Smith Brothers Restaurant

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

An original color silkscreen print by Ruth Grotenrath. A lovely assortment of different foods both vegetable and animal alike. The photos do not do this piece justice. The dark color...

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1950s American Modern Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Ink, Printer's Ink, Screen

JebarySeattle United Air Lines original vintage travel poster, 1968

$650

H 40 in W 25 in D 0.07 in

Seattle United Air Lines original vintage travel poster

Located in Spokane, WA

Original excellent condition, linen backed United Airlines: Seattle, the 1968 airplane airline aviation travel poster promoting travel to Seattle, Washington aboard United Airlines and featuring art of a Native American Indian totem pole...

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1960s American Modern Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Offset

Tony Awards2000 Tony Awards Poster Signed by Celebrity Presenters Autographed Broadway, 2000

$950

H 31 in W 23 in

2000 Tony Awards Poster Signed by Celebrity Presenters Autographed Broadway

Located in New York, NY

2000 Tony Awards Poster Signed by Celebrity Presenters Autographed Broadway Offered is the 2000 Tony Awards poster signed by the presenters, including: Matthew Broderick, Kristen Chenoweth, Kelsey Grammer, Jane Krakowski, Bernadette Peters, Ann Reinking...

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Early 2000s Performance Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Paper, Color

Tom WesselmannUNICEF Bouquet - Tom Wesselmann, Pop Art, Still-life, Print, Screenprint, 1998

$12,151

H 31.03 in W 27.56 in

UNICEF Bouquet - Tom Wesselmann, Pop Art, Still-life, Print, Screenprint

By Tom Wesselmann

Located in London, GB

Screenprint in colours, 1998. From 'Meine Kindheit - Schmerz und Heilung, UNICEF'. Signed in pencil, numbered from the edition of 100. Image: 63.5 x 54.5 cm Sheet: 78.8 x 70 cm

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1990s Pop Art Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Jordy KerwickBlack of the Sun, 2020

$4,104Sale Price|20% Off

H 35.71 in W 29.26 in

Black of the Sun

Located in London, GB

23 layer silkscreen print on Somerset Velvet 300gsm paper 84 x 68 cm - sheet size edition of 95 + 1 AP hand-signed and dated by the artist Jordy Kerwick is a self-taught contemporar...

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2010s Contemporary Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Robert LongoRobert Longo -- Untitled (Eric, from Men in the Cities), 2025

$2,994

H 27.56 in W 17.13 in

Robert Longo -- Untitled (Eric, from Men in the Cities)

By Robert Longo

Located in Manchester, GB

Robert Longo, Untitled (Eric, from Men in the Cities), 2025 11 colour silkscreen on 410gsm Somerset Tub Sized Satin Radiant White paper with matte varnish seal Hand-signed and num...

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2010s Contemporary Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Romare BeardenGirl in the Garden (Gelburd/Rosenberg 62), Romare Bearden, 1979

$6,000Sale Price|20% Off

H 28.75 in W 21.125 in

Girl in the Garden (Gelburd/Rosenberg 62), Romare Bearden

By Romare Bearden

Located in Fairfield, CT

Artist: Romare Bearden (1911-1988) Title: Girl in the Garden (Gelburd/Rosenberg 62) Year: 1979 Medium: Lithograph on vélin d’Arches paper Edition: 33/150, plus proofs Size: 28.75 x 2...

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1970s Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Lithograph

Maurice MilliereVersailles (France) original lithograph vintage SNCF travel poster, 1938

$999

H 39.5 in W 24.5 in D 0.03 in

Versailles (France) original lithograph vintage SNCF travel poster

By Maurice Milliere

Located in Spokane, WA

Original Versailles, France vintage lithograph French travel poster. Printed by the French National Railroad, SNCF in the 1938's. Printer: Goossens. A poster fit for a king since he once resided here at Versailles. Transform your living space with the elegance and grandeur of the Versailles Original Poster. This exquisite piece captures the breathtaking beauty of the iconic Palace of Versailles, showcasing its majestic fountains and lush gardens. The vibrant colors and intricate details bring to life the opulence and historical significance of one of the world's most renowned landmarks. The grand fountains had a chariot and horses...

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1930s Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Lithograph

Raul SoldiMujere, c.1960

$750

H 26.65 in W 21.5 in D 0.01 in

Mujere

By Raul Soldi

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork "Mujere" c.1960 is an original color silkscreen by noted Argentinian artist Raul Soldi, 1905-1994. It is hand signed and numbered 12/15 P.A in pencil by the artist. The image size is 22.75 x 17 inches, sheet size is 26.65 x 21.5 inches. It is in very good condition, colors are fresh and bright. About the artist: Raúl Soldi was born in Buenos Aire in 1905. He was an argentine plastic artist of recognized international experience. In 1920 he began drawing and painting. He makes reproductions of Quinquela Martín...

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Mid-20th Century Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Marc ChagallChagall, Die Zauberflöte (Mourlot CS. 38), The Metropolitan Opera (after), 1973

$716Sale Price|20% Off

H 39.5 in W 25.75 in

Chagall, Die Zauberflöte (Mourlot CS. 38), The Metropolitan Opera (after)

By Marc Chagall

Located in Fairfield, CT

Title: Die Zauberflöte (Mourlot CS. 38), The Metropolitan Opera Year: 1973 Medium: Lithograph on wove paper Size: 39.5 x 25.75 inches Notes: From the opening of Mozart's 'The Magic F...

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1970s Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Lithograph

Marc ChagallMarc Chagall, The Bay of Angels, from The Lithographs of Chagall, 1960, 1960

$956Sale Price|20% Off

H 12.216 in W 9.875 in

Marc Chagall, The Bay of Angels, from The Lithographs of Chagall, 1960

By Marc Chagall

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled La Baie des Anges (The Bay of Angels), from the album The Lithographs of Chagall, Volume I, originates from the 1960 edi...

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1960s Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Lithograph

Charles Livingston BullOriginal "Keep Him Free, Buy War Savings Stamps" excellent vintage WW1 poster, 1917

$1,198

H 30 in W 20.25 in D 0.05 in

Original "Keep Him Free, Buy War Savings Stamps" excellent vintage WW1 poster

Located in Spokane, WA

Original WW1 US propaganda poster designed by Charles Livingston Bull (1874-1932) and entitled “Keep Him Free Buy War Savings Stamps”. This poster was issued to promote the US Treasu...

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1910s American Modern Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Lithograph

Hunt SlonemCurtains, Pop Art Screenprint by Hunt Slonem, 1981

$850

H 26 in W 29.5 in

Curtains, Pop Art Screenprint by Hunt Slonem

By Hunt Slonem

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Hunt Slonem, American (1951 - ) Title: Curtains Year: 1981 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: HC 10 Image Size: 22 x 26.5 inches Size: 26 ...

Category

1980s Contemporary Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Previously Available Items

Ruth Grotenrath'Smith Brothers Restaurant' original color silkscreen, c.1950

Sold

H 24.75 in W 18.63 in

'Smith Brothers Restaurant' original color silkscreen

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

Art: 11" x 17" Frame: 24.75" x 18.63" Original color silkscreen "The paintings of Ruth Grotenrath (1912-1988) speak more about the woman who created ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Other Art Style Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen, Ink

Ruth Grotenrath"Still Life with Irises, " signed original gouache painting by Ruth Grotenrath, 1987

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H 37.63 in W 31.63 in D 1 in

"Still Life with Irises, " signed original gouache painting by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Still Live with Irises" is an original, signed gouache by the Midwestern artist Ruth Dorothy Grotenrath (American, 1912-1988). It is an exquisite example of her work in its subject matter and its use of vibrant color. In the painting, Grotenrath has juxtaposed a bouquet of bearded irises with a Japanese imari ware plate...

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1980s Contemporary Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Gouache, Rice Paper

Ruth Grotenrath"O'Tannenbaum, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath, c. 1947

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H 15.5 in W 12.5 in

"O'Tannenbaum, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Christmas Traditions 30119" is an original color silkscreen signed in screen on verso by Ruth Grotenrath. This piece depicts an evergreen tree decorated for Christmas. 6 5/8" x 4" art 15 1/2" x 12 1/2" frame "The paintings of Ruth...

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1940s American Modern Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Ruth Grotenrath"Christmas Traditions 30119" Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath, circa 1950

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H 13.75 in W 11.75 in

"Christmas Traditions 30119" Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Christmas Traditions 30119" is an original color silkscreen signed in screen on verso by Ruth Grotenrath. This piece depicts patterns in green and red as well as other Christmas images...

Category

1950s American Modern Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Ruth Grotenrath"Pear & Pomegranate, " original color silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath, 1957

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H 12.5 in W 14.25 in

"Pear & Pomegranate, " original color silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Pear & Pomegranate" is an original color silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath. The artist signed the piece. It depicts fruit in magenta and black. 4 7/8" x 6 5/8" art 12 1/2" x 14 1/4" f...

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1950s Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Ruth Grotenrath"Yuletide Silhouette, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath, c. 1955

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H 13.75 in W 11.75 in

"Yuletide Silhouette, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Yuletide Silhouette" is an original color silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath. The artist signed the piece on verso. It depicts silhouettes of reindeer and other Christmas-themed images in red and green. 6 3/4" x 4 7/8" art 13 3/4" x 11 3/4" frame "The paintings of Ruth...

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1950s Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Ruth Grotenrath"Surprise Package, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath, c. 1955

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H 14 in W 12.5 in

"Surprise Package, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Surprise Package" is an original color silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath. It depicts an abstract pattern of Christmas presents wrapped in white, blue, and red. The artist signed the piece in screen on the back of the artwork. 6 1/4" x 4 1/2" art 14" x 12 1/2" frame "The paintings of Ruth...

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1950s Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Ruth Grotenrath"Yule Dancers, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath, circa 1955

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H 12 in W 14 in

"Yule Dancers, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Yule Dancers" is an original color silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath. The artist signed the piece on the back. It depicts blackbirds in winter. 4 7/8" x 6 3/4" art 12" x 14" frame "The paintings of...

Category

1950s Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Ruth Grotenrath"Smith Brothers Restaurant, " Original Color Silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath, circa 1950

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H 14.25 in W 20.125 in

"Smith Brothers Restaurant, " Original Color Silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Smith Brothers Restaurant" is an original color silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath. The artist designed this piece for a placemat for the restaurant in Wisc...

Category

1950s Contemporary Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Ruth Grotenrath"Season's Good Cheer, " original color silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath, c. 1950

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H 14.5 in W 12.5 in

"Season's Good Cheer, " original color silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Season's Good Cheer" is an original color silkscreen by Ruth Grotenrath. The artist signed it with her initials and it is No. 256 in the artist's numbering...

Category

1950s Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Ruth Grotenrath"Festive Fruit, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath, 1950

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H 14.5 in W 12.5 in

"Festive Fruit, " Original Color Silkscreen signed by Ruth Grotenrath

By Ruth Grotenrath

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Festive Fruit" is an original color silkscreen signed on verso by the artist, Ruth Grotenrath. It depicts pears and pine needles on a teal background. 6 1/2" x 4 1/2" art 14 1/2" x 12 1/2" frame "The paintings of Ruth...

Category

1950s Expressionist Ruth Grotenrath Art

Materials

Screen

Ruth Grotenrath art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Ruth Grotenrath art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of red and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ruth Grotenrath in screen print, ink, lithograph and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Expressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Ruth Grotenrath art, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Frank Kleinholz, Alexander Archipenko, and Romano Campagnoli. Ruth Grotenrath art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $550 and tops out at $1,700, while the average work can sell for $1,200.