Emile A. Gruppe (American, 1896-1978): oil on canvas, signed bottom right, framed in an antique frame with Constitution Galleries, East Gloucester stamp verso. Emile Gruppe was an American painter and one of most notable members of the Cape Ann School. Predominantly known for his landscapes evocative of Claude Monet, Gruppe’s paintings are indicative of the prominent modernist style found in the Rockport School. Gruppe was equally as skilled as a teacher as a painter and mentored mentored many, including Otis Cook, from his studio in Rockport, Massachusetts.

We believe that this piece is an earlier composition of Gruppe’s. Upon beginning his artistic career, Gruppe notes that his father, already an established and acclaimed painter, chided him for his trees, stating, “Your trees look like telephone poles.†These trees were free of contours, making it seem like the trunks went directly into the ground, and look almost transposed against the rich, technically adept background. Gruppe took his father’s criticism to heart, and began looking closely at and documenting the nuances of each tree, fully integrating it into his composition by emphasizing their anatomy and rootedness. His landscapes are some of his most sought after compositions and make a beautiful addition to any collection.
27 1/2 x 39 1/4" canvas
Private collector, Massachusetts

Good condition. Recently restored.
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