Marcus Chen
Birger Sandzén, a Swedish artist, created a series of paintings depicting landscapes and nature in the western United States, inspired by his native province of Västergötland in Sweden. Sandzén's work has been described as American Post-Impressionist, with thick impasto and heavy paint application. Interestingly, two of his paintings, Creek at Twilight and Mountain Symphony, were once stored in a dusty boiler room at Washington High School in Milwaukee. These paintings, initially purchased by the Class of 1927, were sold at auction in 2017 for a total of $771,000, with the proceeds funding college scholarships for Washington High School graduates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Birger Sandzén |
| School | Washington High School, Milwaukee |
| Year of creation | 1927 |
| Previous location | On display at the Milwaukee Art Institute |
| Title | "Twilight" or "Creek at Twilight" |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Size | 4-by-5-foot |
| Style | American Post-Impressionist, American Van Gogh |
| Features | Thick impasto, bright palette knife strokes |
| Inspiration | Colorado landscape, nature |
| Sale price | $516,500 |
| Net proceeds | $420,000 |
| Buyer's premium | $96,500 |
| Previous appraisal value | $240,000-$250,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Birger Sandzén was a Swedish artist
Birger Sandzén, born Sven Birger Sandzén, was a Swedish painter and printmaker. He was born in Blidsberg, Ulricehamn Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden, in 1871, and died in 1954. His mother was an accomplished watercolourist, and his father was a parish priest. Sandzén showed an interest in art from a young age, and at 10 years old, he joined Skara Cathedral School to study art. After graduating in 1890, he studied briefly at the University of Lund before moving to Stockholm.
Sandzén studied art in Stockholm alongside Anders Zorn and Richard Bergh. Zorn and Bergh recommended that Sandzén complete his painting studies in Paris, where he studied under Edmond Aman-Jean, who introduced him to pointillism. Sandzén's early work displays these influences, along with a tonalist approach. In 1894, Sandzén accepted a teaching post at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, where he taught various languages, as well as art and music. He remained on the faculty for 52 years and became the head of art until his retirement in 1946.
Sandzén was taken with the Smoky Hill River Valley area of central Kansas, which provided much of the subject matter for his paintings. He is best known for his landscapes, and many of his paintings feature the great landscapes of the American Southwest, including depictions of the Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone National Park. During his lifetime, he completed more than 2600 oil paintings, 500 watercolours, and hundreds of lithographs, block prints, and drypoints. His work was exhibited widely throughout the United States and Sweden, and it continues to be featured in museums worldwide, including the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Library of Congress, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe.
In 2017, one of Sandzén's paintings, "Creek at Twilight," sold for \$516,500 at auction. The painting had been stored for years in a dusty storage room at Washington High School in Milwaukee, along with another of Sandzén's works, "Mountain Symphony." The proceeds from the sale of the two paintings were used to fund college scholarships for Washington High School graduates.
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The paintings were a gift from the Class of 1927
The Swedish artist Birger Sandzén's paintings, "Creek at Twilight" and "Mountain Symphony", were a gift to Washington High School in Milwaukee from the Class of 1927. Sandzén was born in Sweden but lived in Lindsborg, Kansas, where he taught art at Bethany College. At the time, Sandzén was exhibiting at the Milwaukee Art Institute, and "Twilight" was purchased from the trunk of his car. The paintings hung on the walls of Washington High School for many years before ending up in storage.
The paintings were sold at auction in 2017 for a total of $771,000, with the proceeds being used to fund college scholarships for Washington High School graduates. The sale of the paintings was pushed for by a small group of Washington High graduates, including Howard Rubin, who wanted the money to benefit the Washington High School Alumni Scholarship Foundation. The paintings had been appraised in 2004 at $240,000 and $250,000, and their sale in 2017 was the third-highest price for a Sandzén painting at the time.
Sandzén is known for his thickly applied paint and bright, keyed-up colours, often applied with a palette knife. His work has been compared to that of Van Gogh, and he is considered a great American impressionist, regionalist, modernist, and Western painter. Sandzén's work has seen a surge in value in recent years, with interest in Western paintings and American regionalism growing.
In addition to his long-standing connection with Bethany College, Sandzén was a guest artist-teacher at various colleges in the United States, including Utah State University in 1927. He believed in encouraging individualism in his students while discouraging imitation and repetition. Sandzén's own work was influenced by his studies with internationally-recognized Swedish painter Anders Zorn and his time in the studio of Edmond François Aman-Jean in Paris, where he befriended several American artists.
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The paintings were found in a dusty boiler room in 2004
The Sandzén paintings were discovered in a dusty boiler room in 2004, after having been relegated to a storage room at Washington High School in Milwaukee for years. The two 4-by-5-foot paintings, "Creek at Twilight" and "Mountain Symphony", were purchased at auction by the school's Class of 1927. At the time of their rediscovery, they were appraised at $240,000 and $250,000, respectively.
Birger Sandzén, the Swedish artist who painted these works, is known for his thickly applied paint and vibrant palette. His work has been influenced by his Swedish heritage, as well as his studies in Paris and with Swedish painter Anders Zorn. Sandzén's art often depicts landscapes, particularly those of the western United States, and his unique style has led to comparisons to Van Gogh and Impressionist painters.
The paintings were not always appreciated during their time at Washington High School, as they ended up in storage at some point. However, their value increased significantly over the years. In 2017, "Creek at Twilight" sold for $516,500 at auction, while "Mountain Symphony" was privately sold for $351,000. The combined proceeds of these sales amounted to $771,000, which was set aside to fund college scholarships for Washington High School graduates.
The story of the Sandzén paintings illustrates how art can increase in value and significance over time. What began as a gift to a high school eventually transformed into a valuable asset that provided educational opportunities for students. The rediscovery of these paintings in 2004 highlights the importance of recognizing and preserving artistic works, as they can have a significant impact on the world of art and beyond.
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Creek at Twilight sold for \$516,500 at auction
"Creek at Twilight", a painting by Swedish artist Birger Sandzén, sold for $516,500 at auction in 2017. The painting had spent years in a dusty storage room at Washington High School in Milwaukee, where it had been relegated after being gifted to the school by the Class of 1927. The sale of the painting, along with a private sale of its sister painting, "Mountain Symphony", brought in a total of $771,000, which was set aside to fund college scholarships for Washington High School graduates.
Sandzén is known for his thickly applied paint and bright, vibrant colours, leading some to refer to him as an "American Van Gogh". His work has seen a surge in value in recent years, with his paintings fetching prices upwards of $600,000 at auction. "Creek at Twilight" is considered a prime example of the artist at his best, showcasing his unique palette and brushwork.
Birger Sandzén was born in Sweden but lived for many years in Lindsborg, Kansas, where he taught art at Bethany College. He also spent time as a guest artist-teacher at various colleges in the United States, including Utah State University and Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Sandzén's work was influenced by his studies with internationally recognized Swedish painter Anders Zorn, as well as his exposure to Oriental art, particularly Chinese art, which he studied and collected in the 1920s.
"Creek at Twilight" is one of two Sandzén paintings that were gifted to Washington High School in Milwaukee. The paintings hung on the walls of the school for years before being moved to storage. They were rediscovered in 2004 and appraised at the time for $240,000 and $250,000. The sale of the paintings generated interest due to the artist's growing popularity and the paintings' provenance and history. The auction of "Creek at Twilight" attracted bidders and resulted in a successful sale, with the painting selling for a final price of $516,500, including a buyer's premium.
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The proceeds will fund college scholarships for Washington High School graduates
The Birger Sandzén painting "Creek at Twilight" was sold at auction for $516,500. The net proceeds of $420,000, along with the $351,000 netted in a private sale of the sister painting, "Mountain Symphony," bring the total amount of money set aside to fund college scholarships for Washington High School graduates to $771,000.
The paintings had been a gift to the school from the Class of 1927 and hung on the walls at Washington High School for years before ending up in storage. The pieces were rediscovered in 2004 and appraised at $240,000 and $250,000. The sale of the paintings was pushed for by a group of Washington High graduates who wanted the proceeds to benefit the Washington High School Alumni Scholarship Foundation.
Birger Sandzén was a Swedish artist who lived for many years in Lindsborg, Kansas, where he taught art at Bethany College. He is known for his thickly applied paint and bright, keyed-up colors, and his work has been compared to that of Van Gogh. Sandzén's paintings have seen a surge in value in recent years, with one of his paintings selling for a record $670,000.
The scholarships funded by the sale of the Sandzén paintings will provide much-needed financial support for Washington High School graduates, many of whom come from low-income families. The hope is that these scholarships will not only help students get to college but also enable them to stay there and complete their education.
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Frequently asked questions
Washington High School.
Two.
"Creek at Twilight" and "Mountain Symphony".
4-by-5-foot.
"Creek at Twilight" sold for $516,500 at auction, while "Mountain Symphony" was sold in a private sale for $351,000.
