This late 19th-century oil painting by German artist Martin Ränike (b.1863) depicts an artist whistling while strolling through the woods.
With an umbrella tucked under his left arm and right hand resting in his pocket, he wanders carefree under the midday sun. Various paint marks pepper his blue trousers, which are complemented by a striking red and white neckerchief. A posy of forget-me-nots nestles in his hat.
Ränike is a fairly obscure artist and very little is written about him. He’s predominantly known as a Berlin-based book illustrator and his oil paintings are a rare find. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a spate of works depicting dapper gentlemen amid nature and it’s interesting to contrast this piece with those by Winslow Homer (1836-1910), Hugo Mühlig (1854-1929) and Edouard Manet (1832-1883).
Who is this jovial chap? Could it be a self-portrait? Or perhaps a close friend?
Signed in the lower right. Bears an exhibition label on the reverse.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 22” x 30” / 56cm x 76cm
Year of creation: c. 1890
Labels & Inscriptions: Exhibition label on the reverse.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Craquelure but the paint is stable. One tidy patched repair.
German artist Martin Ränike (b.1863) was primarily known for book illustrations but also produced figurative works in oil. Born in a village near the historic city of Magdeburg, he undertook formal training at the Academy of Arts in Berlin.
Learn more about Martin Ränike in our directory.
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