Colorful abstract painting by San Francisco Bay Area artist Hildegarde Haas depicting rock formations floating in a red and rainbow colored background. This work was not titled by the artist so interpretation is up to the viewer. Haas loved to study and paint scenes from nature, but is also known for her paintings she created while employing her synesthesia. (Synesthesia is a perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway). Hildegarde Haas was born with projective synesthesia. With this condition Haas saw colors and forms while listening to music. Haas at times would employ this ability to create some of her paintings. Haas would listen to music and paint what she experienced. This work appears to be related to Haas' nature studies, and appears to depict rock formations floating in a field of bright rainbow and red colors.
Date: 1960s
Medium: Watercolor and mixed pigments on paper.
Measurements: 11.75 inches x 17.75 inches sight size, and 18.75 inches x 23.75 inches x 1 inch overall including framing.
Notes: Housed in a brand new frame under UV plexiglass.
Provenance: From the estate of the artist.

About the artist: Hildegarde Haas, (German/American 1926-2002), was born in Frankfurt, Germany. At the age of 11 her family moved to the United States, settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While living in Colorado Springs Haas studied art at Colorado Springs Fine Art Center which piqued her interest in art and fueled her desire to dedicate herself to creating art. As a young adult Haas moved to Chicago, IL and studied at the University of Chicago before moving to New York City to further her career as an artist. In New York Haas studied with highly influential American modernists, Vaclav Vytlacil and Morris Kantor at the Arts Students League. During her time in New York Haas became a member of The Printmakers, a prominent group of graphic artists based in New York. In 1953 Haas' woodcuts were included in a significant exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art titled 'Young American Printmakers'. Although very successful as an American printmaker in the 1950s Haas found the physical demands of printmaking too much for her body and she gave up printmaking after 7 years of work. From this point forward Haas refocused her creative energies on creating paintings. Haas moved to the sunshine of northern California in the 1950s and immediately became engrossed in the thriving San Francisco Bay Area art scene. In the Bay Area Haas became an active member of the San Francisco Art Association, the Oakland Art Association, and the Art and Crafts Co-op of Berkeley, while continuing to exhibit her works in national art exhibitions. Haas lived and worked in the Bay Area until she passed away in 2002. During her lifetime Haas exhibited in countless exhibitions including one person shows. Haas' works are held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Library of Congress, the City of San Francisco, the Seattle Museum of Art, the Dallas Museum of Fine Art, the Worcester Art Museum, and the Cleveland Art Museum. Hildegarde Haas was among 83 artists profiled in 'Paths to the Press: Printmaking and American Women Artists 1910-1960', edited by Elizabeth G. Seaton and published by Beach Museum, Kansas State University.

Excellent condition.