This early 20th-century oil painting by German artist Fritz Halberg-Krauss (1874-1951) depicts an evening view on the Dachauer Moos, near Munich, with cattle. It’s an evocative image and the sky is handled skilfully.

Fritz Halberg-Krauss was predominantly known for his painterly impressionistic landscapes, which often captured the solitary heathland north of Munich. Remarkably, he was self-taught, with inspiration derived from the 19th-century French ‘plein air’ painters, such as Théodore Rousseau (1812-1867) and Jules Dupré (1811-1889). As such, he embraced the spirit of nature, while adopting a relatively loose, more naturalistic approach.

Often cited as the last great bastion of the ‘Munich School’, his atmospheric vistas convey a certain poetry - a rhythmic quality. Clouds build overhead, appearing to move with urgency, amplified by a low horizon line. Cattle bend heavy necks, thirsty by the riverbank. Feathery trees sway as a thunderstorm passes. He connects us with the ever-changing intensity of the dynamic natural world.

Like other local artists, he often gained inspiration from the meadows, pine forests and floodplains of Dachauer Moos. These were a regular haunt, particularly for Academy students, who were captivated by its transient light effects. He exhibited predominantly in Munich at the popular salons.

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

Learn more about Fritz Halberg-Krauss in our directory.

Medium: Oil on board
Overall size: 35½” x 27½” / 90cm x 70cm
Year of creation: c. 1910
Provenance: Private collection, Germany.
Condition: Assessed and approved by our conservator. Cleaned. Frame restored. Slight bow to board.
Artist’s auction maximum: £9,050
Our reference: BRV1698