1402 - Hugo Oehmichen (1843, Borsdorf/Leipzig – 1932, Düsseldorf)

Hugo Oehmichen (1843, Borsdorf/Leipzig – 1932, Düsseldorf) Grandmother Visiting Her Grandchildren A view of a rural interior with a tiled stove. In the foreground, the grandmother is seated, with a girl and a boy listening intently to her stories or fairy tales, while an older sister, watching happily, stokes the stove. A work typical of Oehmichen’s style and subject matter, featuring a subtle observation of the children’s emotions and a characterization of the figures depicted. Oehmichen studied at the Royal Academy in Dresden from 1857 to 1864 under Julius Hübner and Adolf Ehrhardt, specializing in genre painting even then. As early as 1862, Oehmichen made his debut at the Academy exhibition and won the Academy’s small silver medal; in 1864, he received the small gold medal for the painting “Grandfather’s Blessing,” which was purchased by the King of Saxony. In 1869, Oehmichen settled in Düsseldorf, where he primarily painted scenes from rural and small-town life; his family and children provided further inspiration for his cozy genre paintings. He regularly submitted these works to major exhibitions throughout the German-speaking world. Their reproduction as engravings contributed to Oehmichen’s great popularity. Oil on canvas; signed lower right; 90 cm x 68 cm. Framed. Oil on canvas. Signed.