Johannes Schiefer

La Madeleine, Paris

Johannes Schiefer was born in 1896 in Alsace and attended the Düsseldorf Art Academy in Germany. He later moved to Paris, where he began his formal art training. Schiefer lived and painted in southern France and Europe until he, his wife, and young daughter fled France for New York in 1942. In the USA, he continued to paint and exhibit his work at New York galleries. Later in life, he was the curator of the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, Long Island. Born in the late 19th century, Schiefer was no doubt introduced to Impressionism as a young art student, and it is not all that surprising that he chose to continue to paint in a post-Impressionist style. However, his paintings differ from period Impressionist paintings in that he injects them with a lighthearted almost illustrative quality. His scenes of Paris, for instance, include cars, boats and small figures engaged inactivity, that reflect the daily rhythm of the city. His works had broad appeal and were collected and treasured by many serious collectors, which explains why so many of his paintings are displayed in beautifully ornate period frames.