Ernest Martin Hennings 1886-1956

Walter Howard Bachman, Wichita Falls, Texas, circa 1940
By descent in the family to the current owner

Very good condition, unlined; under UV: three small spots of inpainting in sky, otherwise fine.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

E. Martin Hennings was drawn to all aspects of the Taos landscape and sought to capture the tranquil and majestic life of the Pueblo Indians. The seasonal variations of color and light in the landscape surrounding Taos provided Hennings with endless subject matter. In addition, the agricultural lifestyle of his Native American models and the mild New Mexican climate allowed the artist to complete most of his paintings outdoors. He often painted late into the afternoon in order to complete as much of his composition as possible before returning to the studio.

He wrote of his life in Taos: "I have been working in Taos for many years and I think that should prove that I like it here; the country, the mountains with their canyons and streams, the sage beneath the clouded skies, the adobe village with its Spanish people and of course the Taos Pueblo with its Indians: their life - domestic and agricultural - with all the color and romance of their dress and history" (Patricia Janis Broder, Taos: A Painter's Dream, New York, 1980, p. 262).

Hennings' paintings of the Taos landscape are characterized by bold colors and stylized patterns. The artist often placed his figures within a linear landscape beneath a broad sky filled with billowing clouds. According to Patricia Janis Broder, "Hennings' most successful canvases are those in which he interwove the threads of landscape and figure forms. His special talent lay in this ability to integrate human figures and natural forms into a single aesthetic creation... in the bright color and clarity of form, Henning's paintings are immediately identifiable as landscapes of New Mexico..." ( Taos: A Painter's Dream, pp. 253, 256).