This exquisite late 19th-century oil painting by German artist August Fink (1846-1916) depicts a waterlogged moorland under an atmospheric sky. It’s a tonal masterclass.

Fink was an Academy man - studying under some of the finest landscape painters in Germany and later becoming a professor in his own right. His works are wholeheartedly traditional and underpinned by his abundant skill for drawing. He followed in the footsteps of the Romantics, such as Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840), but replaced the grandeur with natural subtleties.

The composition here is both technically accomplished and challenging to achieve. Note the winding passage of water, which shimmers with light. It draws the eye upwards, further into the view, and ultimately creates a visual connection with the partially obscured sun. The trees provide further guidance, seemingly pointing towards the brightest area of the sky. It’s intelligently rendered and keeps our eyes entertained as we navigate the canvas.

Signed in the lower right and held within a gilt frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 22” x 25” / 56cm x 63cm
Year of creation: c. 1880
Labels & Inscriptions: Typed biography attached to the reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, Germany.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Canvas relined. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £5,200

August Fink

August Fink was a German artist predominantly known for his atmospheric landscape paintings. He trained under Eduard Schleich the Elder, Adolf Stademann, Adolf Lier and Josef Wenglein. And later became a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich where he was an honourary member.

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