Wooded Landscape with Water
Work on paper, likely a gouache or watercolor painting • Attributed to Paul Schultze (based on the signature P. Schultze in the lower right)
Style & Movement
Mid-century Modernism with influences of Post-Impressionist landscape painting and Expressionist brushwork
Medium & Technique
Gouache and watercolor on paper; utilizes a combination of broad washes, opaque layering (gouache), and gestural brushwork to define foliage and light
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century, specifically 1959 based on the date inscribed in the lower right
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 18 x 24 inches; landscape orientation
Subject Description
A lush landscape scene featuring mature trees with thick, curving trunks adjacent to a body of water or shadowed clearing. The composition uses vibrant green and earth tones with subtle red accents in the middle ground, suggesting a secluded forest glade. The lighting is filtered, creating high contrast between the dark tree canopies and the sunlit background
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; the paper shows significant signs of age-related degradation including uniform yellowing and prominent acid mat burning/staining around the perimeter of the image
Estimated Market Value
$300 - $800 USD based on current market for mid-century European/American secondary market artists
Auction Estimate
$200 - $500 USD
Provenance History
Unknown; likely private collection given the mid-century domestic-style frame and absence of visible gallery labels
Art Historical Significance
Represents the continued late-modernist interest in semi-abstracted naturalism during the 1950s. It serves as an example of expressive landscape painting used as a vehicle for color study and atmospheric mood
Notable Features
Signature and date 'P. Schultze 59' in the lower right corner; distinctive thick impasto-like use of gouache in the highlight areas contrasted with thin watercolor washes
Condition Issues
Severe mat burn (acidic staining) from the current frame's window mat, overall paper oxidation (yellowing), and potential rippling of the paper support due to humidity
Conservation Recommendations
Professional removal from current acidic mounting and framing. Treatment by a paper conservator to reduce staining and acidity. Re-framing with acid-free, archival materials and UV-protective glazing is essential to prevent further darkening