Original Drawing of San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church by Hans Paap

This original pen and ink drawing by Hans Paap captures the iconic San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church in Golden, New Mexico, rendered with a masterful hand and a deep sensitivity to light and form. Executed on an irregularly sized piece of laid paper with a deckled edge, the work combines pencil underdrawing with highly textured pen and ink, employing a mix of directional hatching techniques to build tone and depth. Though monochromatic, the composition reveals Paap's painterly sensitivity — his nuanced handling of black, white, and grey evoking a sense of atmosphere and contrast that speaks to his graphic strength as an artist.

The drawing is signed in the lower left and floated on top of a linen mat and presents the church in reverse — a detail that invites speculation. While this orientation may suggest it was a preliminary study for an etching, there is little indication that Paap pursued printmaking in any substantial way. More likely, the reverse composition came from working off a photograph printed backwards, offering an intriguing glimpse into the artist's working process.

Hans Paap (1890-1967), born in Hamburg, Germany, was a world traveler whose work spanned continents — from South America to Europe and across the United States. Yet it was in New Mexico, and particularly in Taos, where his artistic voice found its truest expression. Paap arrived in Taos in 1929, just after the disbandment of the Taos Society of Artists, and quickly connected with key figures of the movement. The land, light, and people of Northern New Mexico left a lasting impact on him, and the works he produced during his time there — both portraits and landscapes — are considered the most iconic of his career.

This drawing is a rare example of Paap's work in pen and ink, as few such drawings remain. It not only reflects his keen eye for architectural form but also illustrates his enduring engagement with the cultural and spiritual landmarks of New Mexico — a region that profoundly shaped his legacy as an artist.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Original Drawing of San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church by Hans Paap is from a private Colorado collection.

Recommended Reading: Artists of 20th-Century New Mexico: The Museum of Fine Arts Collection by Author Unknown

TAGS: Taos Pueblo, Western Art, Hans Paap