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Birger Sandzén: Van Gogh of the West
Friday, July 17, 2020
Swedish-born painter Birger Sandzen has become widely known for his for his oil paintings, which continue to rise in value as an increasing number of collectors and museums scramble to purchase one of the 2,600 oil paintings he created in his lifetime. Popularly known as the “Van Gogh of the West,” Sandzen paints the red rock cliffs and western landscapes of the United States with the curving brush strokes, thickly applied paint, and impassioned color that one usually associates with a Van Gogh painting.
Image Courtesy of the
Birger Sandzen Memorial FoundationBorn in Bildsberg, Sweden, in 1871, Sandzen began his study of landscape painting in his home country at a young age. At the age of ten he was enrolled at Skara School to study art under the Swedish master Olof Erlandson. After graduating with honors, Sandzen moved to Paris for three months to study with Edmond Francois Aman-Jean, who introduced him to pointillism. Here he met George Seurat and Ernest Laurent, who promoted the concept of Impressionism to the young artist.
"Sunset in the Mountains", 36 x 48 in
Searching for employment found Birger Sandzen relocating to America, where he settled in Lindsborg, Kansas, for the rest of his days, teaching at Bethany College. Here he developed his style from a subdued palette into a rich and colorful technique of capturing light. His broad and rhythmical brush strokes of pure color blend optically when viewed from a distance, as with other impressionist paintings.
Birger Sandzén (1871-1946), titled "Cedars and Rocks", 36 x 48 in
While Sanzen carefully recorded lighting changes across rocks, trees, and mountain peaks, he was no stickler for representational accuracy. He chose colors that excited the imagination and embraced the feeling of being out of doors.
Sandzen’s subject matter include Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon in Utah, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde National Park, and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It was as if the then-deceased Van Gogh had been transported to the striking National Parks of our western states to paint anew in a happier life.
Sandzen painted quietly and industrially in his adopted state, far from the much-traveled art scene in New York of the period, and while he gained only local acclaim during his lifetime, his paintings are now taking the art world by storm, nearly 70 years after his death.
Article by Joan French
ERIN HANSON is a life-long painter, beginning her study of oils as a young child. Her passion for natural beauty is seen in her work as she transforms vistas familiar and rare into stunning interpretations of bold color, playful rhythms and raw emotional impact. Her frequent forays into National Parks and other recesses of nature include backpacking expeditions, rock climbing, and photo safaris. Hanson's unique painting style has become known as Open Impressionism, which is now taught in art schools around the world. With hundreds of collectors eagerly anticipating her work and millions of followers online, Hanson has become an iconic, driving force in the rebirth of contemporary impressionism, and she is quickly recognized as a prolific, modern master.
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Four Friends: The Foundation of ImpressionismFriday, July 17, 2020In 1862, four young men came together in Paris to study painting. They were Claude Monet, Pierre Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and Frederic Bazille. In the course of their studies, they brought into being a completely new style of art called Impressionism. Their teacher was Charles Gleyre, who had taken on the school of Paul Delaroche, and was himself a working artist. Although he himself never achieved the fame of some of his students, he was an excellent teacher. He taught them to paint “en plein air” (painting outdoors) in Paris and surrounding areas. Read More → |
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Four Friends: The Foundation of Impressionism Friday, July 17, 2020 In 1862, four young men came together in Paris to study painting. They were Claude Monet, Pierre Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and Frederic Bazille. In the course of their studies, they brought into being a completely new style of art called Impressionism. Their teacher was Charles Gleyre, who had taken on the school of Paul Delaroche, and was himself a working artist. Although he himself never achieved the fame of some of his students, he was an excellent teacher. He taught them to paint “en plein air” (painting outdoors) in Paris and surrounding areas. Read More → |
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Paul Durand-Ruel, the Godfather of ImpressionismWednesday, April 22, 2020Today, Impressionism is arguably the most well-loved and well-known art in the world. A little less known is the fact that Impressionism almost never came to be. The masters of the Impressionism era, who are so modernly cherished, might have been unknown to this day without the labors of one man: an art dealer by the name of Paul Durand-Ruel. Read More → |
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Paul Durand-Ruel, the Godfather of Impressionism Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Today, Impressionism is arguably the most well-loved and well-known art in the world. A little less known is the fact that Impressionism almost never came to be. The masters of the Impressionism era, who are so modernly cherished, might have been unknown to this day without the labors of one man: an art dealer by the name of Paul Durand-Ruel. Read More → |
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Impressionism Series Part Three: Impressionism Around the WorldA series on the development of ImpressionismSunday, April 9, 2017While artists flocked to France to learn or develop the latest Post-Impressionist style, the love for pure Impressionism never died. In fact, Impressionism spread around the world, heralding the beginning of modern art. Read More → |
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Impressionism Series Part Three: Impressionism Around the World A series on the development of Impressionism Sunday, April 9, 2017 While artists flocked to France to learn or develop the latest Post-Impressionist style, the love for pure Impressionism never died. In fact, Impressionism spread around the world, heralding the beginning of modern art. Read More → |
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Impressionism Series Part Two: The Birth of Modern ArtA series on the development of ImpressionismMonday, March 13, 2017Impressionism is often characterized by its study of light and the vibrant colors used to convey an impression of a scene. The brushwork commonly employed in Impressionist works is loose and layered, with the paint mixing on the canvas rather than being premixed, painted on and then blended. Read More → |
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Impressionism Series Part Two: The Birth of Modern Art A series on the development of Impressionism Monday, March 13, 2017 Impressionism is often characterized by its study of light and the vibrant colors used to convey an impression of a scene. The brushwork commonly employed in Impressionist works is loose and layered, with the paint mixing on the canvas rather than being premixed, painted on and then blended. Read More → |
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Impressionism Series Part One: Capturing Light with PaintA series on the development of ImpressionismSaturday, March 4, 2017The artistic movement Impressionism is often credited with moving painting techniques away from the overtly realistic to a modern approach. An impressionist painting is apparent to the eye in several ways, including one of the most important studies: that of how light and shadow affect color in the world around us. Read More → |
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Impressionism Series Part One: Capturing Light with Paint A series on the development of Impressionism Saturday, March 4, 2017 The artistic movement Impressionism is often credited with moving painting techniques away from the overtly realistic to a modern approach. An impressionist painting is apparent to the eye in several ways, including one of the most important studies: that of how light and shadow affect color in the world around us. Read More → |
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Birger Sandzen: The Inspiration of ImpressionismFrom Impressionism to Open ImpressionismThursday, September 15, 2016Birger Sandzen was a landscape painter born in 1871, while Erin Hanson is a contemporary impressionist. However, there are strong similarities in their styles. You can see that Hanson draws the same inspiration from nature as Sandzen did. Read More → |
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Birger Sandzen: The Inspiration of Impressionism From Impressionism to Open Impressionism Thursday, September 15, 2016 Birger Sandzen was a landscape painter born in 1871, while Erin Hanson is a contemporary impressionist. However, there are strong similarities in their styles. You can see that Hanson draws the same inspiration from nature as Sandzen did. Read More → |
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A Look at California ImpressionismThe Rebirth of the California Impressionism MovementWednesday, May 25, 2016While the heyday of California impressionism was between 1910 and the 1930’s, its techniques and celebration of color are employed today by painters like Erin Hanson. Modern day California impressionism harkens back to the early 1900’s by playing with the intense light of the Golden State and rejoicing in the use of color. Read More → |
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A Look at California Impressionism The Rebirth of the California Impressionism Movement Wednesday, May 25, 2016 While the heyday of California impressionism was between 1910 and the 1930’s, its techniques and celebration of color are employed today by painters like Erin Hanson. Modern day California impressionism harkens back to the early 1900’s by playing with the intense light of the Golden State and rejoicing in the use of color. Read More → |
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Granville Redmond: A Study of Light and ColorThe Profile of a California Landscape PainterTuesday, April 12, 2016Granville Redmond was a turn-of-the-century painter who specialized in Californian landscapes. In doing so, he captured the intense colors and textures found all around this state, while celebrating the differences light can bring to a palette. Read More → |
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Granville Redmond: A Study of Light and Color The Profile of a California Landscape Painter Tuesday, April 12, 2016 Granville Redmond was a turn-of-the-century painter who specialized in Californian landscapes. In doing so, he captured the intense colors and textures found all around this state, while celebrating the differences light can bring to a palette. Read More → |
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American Impressionism Series: William WendtAn American Original Impressionist, by Way of GermanyTuesday, March 29, 2016William Wendt, the original American impressionist, compared with contemporary open-impressionist Erin Hanson. Wendt's passion for California's landscapes is matched by few painter's today. Read More → |
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American Impressionism Series: William Wendt An American Original Impressionist, by Way of Germany Tuesday, March 29, 2016 William Wendt, the original American impressionist, compared with contemporary open-impressionist Erin Hanson. Wendt's passion for California's landscapes is matched by few painter's today. Read More → |
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Group of Seven Influencing Contemporary Landscape ImpressionismWhat Would the Group of Seven Have Painted if They Visited California?Thursday, March 24, 2016Erin Hanson’s art has been compared favorably with art created by the Group of Seven and their associates. We can see their influence in her work by comparing many of her paintings with works by Tom Thomson, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Franklin Carmichael and others. When looking at these classic Group of Seven works, we can see a certain vibrancy and love of color now mirrored in modern impressionistic works by Erin Hanson. Read More → |
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Group of Seven Influencing Contemporary Landscape Impressionism What Would the Group of Seven Have Painted if They Visited California? Thursday, March 24, 2016 Erin Hanson’s art has been compared favorably with art created by the Group of Seven and their associates. We can see their influence in her work by comparing many of her paintings with works by Tom Thomson, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Franklin Carmichael and others. When looking at these classic Group of Seven works, we can see a certain vibrancy and love of color now mirrored in modern impressionistic works by Erin Hanson. Read More → |
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Can You Name Five Women Artists?For Women's History Month, Museums Nationwide Join Forces to Honor Women Artists Past & PresentTuesday, March 15, 2016In Honor of Women's History Month, #5WomenThroughHistory: A Study of Some of the Most Influential Artists in History, Who Also Happen to be Women. Read More → |
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Can You Name Five Women Artists? For Women's History Month, Museums Nationwide Join Forces to Honor Women Artists Past & Present Tuesday, March 15, 2016 In Honor of Women's History Month, #5WomenThroughHistory: A Study of Some of the Most Influential Artists in History, Who Also Happen to be Women. Read More → |
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American Impressionism Series: Jean-Francois MilletThe Beginnings of ImpressionsmFriday, November 13, 2015While many people are familiar with Impressionism, there is a particular figure from the mid-19th century who influenced French painting towards landscapes, and eventually Impressionism: Jean-Francois Millet (1814 - 1875). Read More → |
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American Impressionism Series: Jean-Francois Millet The Beginnings of Impressionsm Friday, November 13, 2015 While many people are familiar with Impressionism, there is a particular figure from the mid-19th century who influenced French painting towards landscapes, and eventually Impressionism: Jean-Francois Millet (1814 - 1875). Read More → |