Taos Mountain (Mountain Landscape at Dusk)
Painting on wooden panel or academy board • Attributed to Albert Groll or the Taos Society of Artists circle
Style & Movement
American Tonalism / Taos School of Art
Medium & Technique
Oil paint applied with both broad brushwork and fine details in the peaks; features wet-on-wet technique for the sky and layering for the mountainous terrain.
Creation Period
Circa 1920-1940
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 8 x 10 inches (sight size); horizontal landscape format.
Subject Description
A serene landscape depicting a high desert plateau leading toward a dramatic, snow-capped mountain range under a deep blue twilight sky. The iconography focuses on the rugged beauty and spiritual atmosphere of the American Southwest.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the paint film appears stable with minor surface grime and slight yellowing of the varnish layers commensurate with age.
Estimated Market Value
$1,500 - $3,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$1,200 - $2,500 USD
Provenance History
Likely private collection; the frame suggests a mid-20th-century gallery origin common in Western American art markets.
Art Historical Significance
Representative of the early 20th-century fascination with the American West, specifically the Taos and Santa Fe art colonies which sought to capture the unique light and terrain of New Mexico.
Notable Features
Distinguished by a specialized carved 'rope' gilt frame and a possible faint signature or monogram in the lower right corner, characteristic of plein-air sketches from the Taos region.
Condition Issues
Slight surface abrasions near the frame edge; minor craquelure in the heavier applications of white paint (snow); accumulated dust on the gilt frame.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning to remove aged varnish; housed in a climate-controlled environment away from direct UV light to prevent further oxidation.