Birger Sandzen (American, 1871-1954), oil on board Colorado landscape painting titled TWILIGHT, depicting a lake with rocky, tree-lined bank at sunset. Mountains are visible in the background, and a crescent moon shines in the pink sky overhead. The scene is rendered in vivid color using a thick impasto technique. Signed lower right Birger Sandzen. Titled, signed and dated en verso TWILIGHT/ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK/COLORADO/1927/BIRGER SANDZEN/LINDSBORG, KANSAS. Additionally inscribed Metzger A or H22215 en verso. Housed in a carved, whitewashed frame. 19 1/2″ x 23 1/2″ sight, 28″ x 32″ framed. This lot is accompanied by a 1983 letter from the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery attributing the work to Sandzen circa 1928-1931. According to the letter’s writer, co-director Larry Griffis, “The colors and brush strokes are characteristic of the period of his life that produced his finest work.” Griffis compares this work to two other known Sandzen works, “Silent Lake” and “Lake in the Rockies”. A letter from Douglas Hyland, director of the Brooks Museum in Memphis, regarding the Sandzen painting and calling it “one of his best works” is also included, along with a softcover book, “The Graphic Work of Birger Sandzen” by Charles Pelham Greenough, and various photocopied biographical materials relating to a past owner, Lois Eason, and to Birger Sandzen. Provenance: the estate of Lois Eason (Mrs. Jeter Eason) of Memphis, inherited circa 1980 by Mrs. Eason from her aunt (a faculty member in the University of Denver’s Art and Architecture Department); by descent to present consignor. Biography (source: the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery): Birger Sandzen was born in Sweden in 1871. He studied art in Stockholm with Anders Zorn and Richard Berg and also studied briefly in Paris. He came to Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas in 1894 to teach language and art, and remained there the rest of his career. He retired in 1946. In the meantime, he produced a large number of oil paintings, watercolors, and prints. Sandzen was a founder of the Mid-West Art Exhibition held annually in Lindsborg and the Smoky Hill Art Club. He also belonged to several art organizations including the Taos Society of Artists. PRE-APPROVAL IS REQUIRED TO BID ON THIS LOT. PLEASE CONTACT CASEANTIQUES, INC. AT THE KNOXVILLE GALLERY FOR DETAILS. 865-558-3033 or BID@CASEANTIQUES.COM. CONDITION: Painting – excellent condition with slight craquelure overall concentrated in areas of heavy impasto. Outer edge of one thick brushstroke may have break (1/8″L by 1/32″W) in an area at the top right center (sky region) of the painting (very inconspicuous). Frame – shrinkage cracks to miter joints, some small edge losses.