JONAS LIE Norwegian / American, 1880-1940 Still Life with Bird and Blue Flowers Oil on canvas Oil on canvas dramatic and texturally rich composition that showcases his bold Expressionist use of color. The scene centers on a dark, heavy ceramic urn resting on a leather-bound book, containing an arrangement of dried foliage and a striking, colorful bird. To the right, tall stalks of pale blue sunflowers or similar blossoms rise against a saturated crimson backdrop, while the left side of the canvas is dominated by a deep, near-black space. In the foreground, a bright orange and a mottled red fruit sit on a reflective dark surface. Signed lower left. Framed. DIMENSIONS: 24 x 20 inches; frame: 29 x 25 inches $1,500-2,500
ARTIST PROFILE: Jonas Lie (1880–1940) was a distinguished Norwegian-born American painter and educator celebrated for his vibrant Expressionist depictions of the New England coastline, New York City, and the construction of the Panama Canal. After training at the Art Students League of New York and spending formative years in Paris among luminaries like Edvard Grieg and Henrik Ibsen, Lie built a prolific career marked by over 50 solo exhibitions and participation in the landmark 1913 Armory Show. Renowned for his dramatic use of color and perspective in maritime scenes, he received numerous accolades, including the Order of St. Olav from the King of Norway and multiple honors from the National Academy of Design, where he served as president from 1934 to 1939. His works, which documented major historical milestones and captured the rugged beauty of the Atlantic shore, are now preserved in prestigious institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the United States Military Academy.
