Original Painting “Early Spring” by Charles Berninghaus

"Early Spring" by Charles Berninghaus is a stunning plein air painting capturing the luminous landscape of Taos County, New Mexico. Created during one of Berninghaus' outdoor excursions, this impressionist work embodies the essence of painting directly from life, a technique that allows for the dynamic interplay of light, color, and atmosphere.

Painted on canvas board outdoors, the painting reveals Berninghaus' process, where forms meet with subtle halos of raw board, and colors vibrate with energy as he works through his composition in real time. This technique aligns closely with the French Impressionists, such as Monet and Pissarro, whose works emphasize movement, light, and immediacy.

Having spent his childhood in Taos and permanently settling there in 1927, Berninghaus developed a deep connection with the Northern New Mexico landscape. His mastery of impressionist brushwork and luminous color palettes made his work an enduring celebration of the region's natural beauty. Framed in a wood frame and signed in the lower left.

Julius Charles Berninghaus (1905-1988) was a distinguished impressionist landscape painter whose artistic journey was deeply influenced by his father, Oscar E. Berninghaus, a founding member of the renowned Taos Society of Artists. Growing up immersed in the art world, Charles naturally gravitated toward painting. He received his formal education in St. Louis, graduating high school in 1924 before studying at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Art Students League in New York.

After a period in New York, Berninghaus ultimately settled in New Mexico, where he dedicated his career to capturing the region's landscapes in his signature impressionist style. His work reflects a deep connection to the light, color, and atmosphere of the Southwest, a passion that defined his lifelong artistic practice.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Original Painting "Early Spring" by Charles Berninghaus is from a private collection.

Recommended Reading: Samuels' Encyclopedia of Artists of the American West by Peggy and Harold Samuels

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