An interesting abstract painting dating to about 1960, created by a German artist, Max Hansen (1898-). The work, oil and perhaps another substance mixed in, applied on canvas laid on panel, measures 25" by 13 1/2" and 30 1/2" by 19 1/2" in the original gray framing. This was acquired from a local family of German heritage, who stated that it was brought to Southern California from Germany more than 50 years ago. Family stated that the artist was "Uncle Max"----Max Hansen, born in 1898...

Oil painting of the front of a noted cafe, "La Bonne Entente", signed at lower right by artist "Vanet". This 8 1/4" by 10" (14 1/4" by 16 1/4" framed) work is by a Bulgarian woman artist by the name IVANKA PETROVA-TZEKOV, born 1956. She has been in France since 1983, painting colorful, figure-filled works of nightclubs and other scenes with multiple figures. She was a 1982 graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia...

An oil on board painting, (19" by 16", and 27" by 23" framed), of a French landscape, by the French mid century impressionist artist ROGER ETIENNE (1922-2011). The painting is signed at lower left by the artist and dated there 1975, and at lower right he wrote a dedication to previous owners "Pour Balli & John". The scene, an avenue leading into a small town or village, is at once impressionist and also Expressionist, with strong brush strokes especially in sky, and some points of bright color...

Oil on canvas, 13" by 16" (17" by 20" as framed), the subject a glass compote filled with purple plums, the base surrounded by clusters of white and red currants, signed at lower left with a signature that appears to be "Bielard", "Bichard", or "Beclard" or possibly "Bulard". I don't see a listing for any such name but the artist was talented. I'd guess the age as circa 1920 to 1930's or so, judging from the technique, materials etc...

Oil on board, 13" by 17", unsigned, the subject a group of European-looking (French, I'd guess) buildings that appear as if they would belong in a country winery scene, with an early spring impressionistic landscape surrounding them. The conical tops remind me of structures I have seen in California wine country, or, in French chateau country. This one is difficult to describe adequately...

An unstretched oil on canvas of a rocky forested coast, presumably in Finland, signed at lower right and dated there 1936 by listed Finnish artist TOIVE JYRINKI (1895-1988). The canvas measures 13 1/4" by 18 3/4". There does not appear to be a lot of information on the talented artist. The scene is reminiscent of much 19th century American art such as paintings of the rocky coast of Maine. Condition is vintage good, needs to be mounted and framed.

Oil on board painting of a Mediterranean-looking coastline, 6 1/2" by 10 1/4" (11 3/4" by 16" framed), unsigned, the luminous sunshine handled with considerable skill. This needs only a signature to propel it to stardom; it's really a shame that the artist did not affix his or her name. I suppose this could be Southern California but the buildings don't match up with any coastal locale that comes to mind. I believe the work could date to the 1920's or 1930's...

Oil on canvas, 21" by 15 3/4" (24" by 19 1/2" as framed), unsigned, the subject an Austrian, Swiss, or German village in deep snow on a brilliant sunny day. The sharp peak in the background center could be the Matterhorn, in which case we could assume the subject is Zermatt, Switzerland. I'd guess the age of the work as circa 1950's. On the stretcher someone has written "AUSTRIA (TIROL) cca 1950"...

Large horizontal format painting of Paris street scene with the classic buildings, kiosk, book stalls, and circa 1960 automobiles, signed at lower right illegibly (and there are some initials on the tacking edge as well as something written on the back of the canvas). The unframed work measures 24" by 48"...

Charming small round painting in the original gold wood frame, 9 1/2" diameter as framed, the subject given on the reverse of the board in the artist's own handwriting: "Heilige Nacht in Villingen" ("Holy Night in Villingen"), also, "N. gem. v. Albert Sager" ("painted/executed by Albert Sager") signed there including the artist's most unusual monogram which includes the date of execution, 1922. That monogram is also incised carefully in the wet paint on the front side at right...

Oil on canvas painting of a small structure surrounded by a beautiful autumnal forest, 16" by 31 1/2" (21" by 36 1/2" as framed), signed at lower right "C. Jonnevelt" (or Sonnevelt), suggestive of a Scandinavian, Dutch or Belgian artist. The painting, in the tradition of earlier works, was probably executed by a Northern European artist circa 1960 to 1970. Note the skilled handling of the reflections at left...

Oil on canvas, 27" by 39" (32 1/2" by 44 1/2" as framed), the scene a deep blue lake with small boats and a dock, puffy clouds filling the sky on a peaceful summer day. It is an expansive scene, large enough to invite the viewer to feel he is a part of it. I suppose the work is Swedish or Danish. The artist chose to sign with just the conjoined initials "HM" at lower left, where it is also dated 1948. Condition: because of evident past moisture exposure, there is flaking of the paint at rig...

Original watercolor/gouache on paper by Hans Kleiss (1901-1973) depicting a veiled woman from Morocco, circa 1940-1950. In beautiful condition. Signed l.l. 16cm by 13cm. Hans Kleiss was an Orientalist/ Africanist painter, illustrator, and caricaturist. He was the husband of Orientalist painter Yvonne Kleiss-Herzig. They both lived for long periods in North Africa (Morocco and Algeria). They settled together in Sidi Slimane (Morocco) in the early fifties before returning to France. One o...

Oil on wood panel landscape in the Netherlands, 13" by 10" (22" by 19" in old, likely original frame), signed at lower left corner by the listed American artist and illustrator EDWIN H. KIEFER (1860-1931). This antique painting features a classic windmill, and a woman classically dressed, carrying a basket, in the left foreground. The late 19th century work is very dirty; a cleaning would work wonders. There is a long vertical crack in the panel at upper left as shown. Kiefer was born in Por...

A mid century oil on canvas painting by the hand of a listed French artist who lived for 102 years, RAYMOND PERREAU (1874-1976). The work is handled in an impressionist manner but also possesses a mid century, contemporary air. It measures 32" by 16", 39" by 23" in black wood frame with liner, and the artist signed at lower right where he dated it 1961. Upon close examination one can see how the paint is meticulously worked; the artist used a lot of colorful underpaint which he selectively al...

Oil on canvas, 25 1/2" by 18" (32 1/2 by 24 1/2" as framed), apparently unsigned, circa 1930 to 1950, and very probably European (French or perhaps Scandinavian, judging from the stretcher). The painting is something of a mystery, the mysterious hand and spectacles at lower left coming from outside the image area. Almost certainly this was created by a listed artist but without a signature I cannot go further on that front. On the reverse stretcher appear the words "Vendredi" (Friday, in Frenc...

Original gouache painting by Hans Kleiss (France, 1901-1973), mid-century. 14" by 11", currently unframed. Portrait of a Moroccan Berber. Signed by the artist l.r. and in excellent condition. One of a number of works by this well-listed artist currently available.

Oil on canvas,unframed, 18" by 22", signed at lower right by listed French- Italian modern and contemporary artist NINO GIUFFRIDA (1924-), the subject a pair of harlequins, one dressed in blue, the other in red, in a dreamy landscape with houses, trees, and a small beach on the sea, a point of land and trees on the far horizon. Giuffrida painted a wide range of subject matter, often in a distinctive whimsical style; these subjects include portraits (in the 1950's he painted the likes of Gina Lo...