Alfons Walde
Tauernhof, Kitzbühel, Tirol, Austria , 1933
Oil on board
48.3 x 70 cm
Born in Kitzbühel in Tyrol, Alfons Walde began his career at the Technische Hochschule in Vienna, where he studied architecture from 1910 to 1914, whilst simultaneously perfecting his skills as...
Born in Kitzbühel in Tyrol, Alfons Walde began his career at the Technische Hochschule in Vienna, where he studied architecture from 1910 to 1914, whilst simultaneously perfecting his skills as a painter. Here he came into contact with Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and Ferdinand Hodler, whose work was of great influence to the burgeoning artist. In 1911 Walde had his first exhibition at Innsbruck and in 1913 submitted four works to the celebrated Vienna Secession exhibition. With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Walde’s artistic ambitions were put on hold as he joined the Tyrolean Kaiserschütze, heading to the high mountains of Austria. Following the end of the war Walde returned to Kitzbühel and fully devoted himself to painting. During the 1920s Walde participated in a number of exhibitions of the Secession and the Wiener Künstlerhaus. In 1924 he received first and second prize at the competition "Winterbilder" and a year later took part at the Biennale Romana in Rome. Around 1928 he finally found his own characteristic style that gave expression to the Tyrolean mountain scenery - particularly the living winter landscapes - and its robust people through the use of highly reduced inland drawings and a pastose colouring.
Provenance
Private collection UK, then by descent