Oscar Edward Berninghaus

Pauline Gillespie Townsend, Wichita, Kansas
By descent to the present owner

Oil on canvas, canvas is not lined. Surface: In generally good condition aside form faint draws to the corners and the work is slightly slack on the stretcher. Colors are bright and vibrant. UNDER UV: No apparent inpainting; some pigments are still active.
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.

Oscar Berninghaus dedicated his life to capturing the beauty of the landscape and people of New Mexico. He first became entranced by Taos in 1899 while on assignment as a commercial artist for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Berninghaus regularly returned to the area to paint and sketch until 1915, when he became a founding member of the Taos Society of Artists. The success of the traveling exhibitions put on by the Society allowed Berninghaus to permanently relocate to Taos in 1925. Following this move, Berninghaus's tones became richer and his compositions became more complex. As we see in Autumn Aspen Forest, Berninghaus has interwoven the greens, yellows, and oranges of the trees to capture the changing of the season.