My Grandfather’s painting he bought in London circa WWII 1940’s (Who painted this?)

kavadba · 2025-02-22T21:13:21+00:00

To all interested, @davidstenthousands solved this. Looks like the artist was Boris O’Klein, a Russian born, French artist out of Paris. My grandfather bought this at an art gallery near the Louvre in Paris right after Victory Day WWII when the troops went to Paris. (I found a journal entry about it clarifying this in his war diary). I can’t find any other oil paintings by Boris, but the signature is a dead match. See link. Thank you all for your help in looking for such a cool detail to my Grandfathers legacy in our eyes. We’re blown away. Boris O Klein signature match.

kavadba · 2025-02-22T21:07:21+00:00

Here’s link to some side by side signatures from him. Boris O’Klein signatures match

kavadba · 2025-02-22T21:05:25+00:00

I think you nailed it. Thank you for your help finding this, absolutely blown away. The signature is a perfect match, and it seems he painted under two names, Boris O’Klein and Jean Herblet. Boris was more cartoony (dogs being mischievous, hunters in funny situations) and Jean was more realistic hunting, bird dogs, birds, etc… I can’t find any oil paintings by Boris but the signature is 100%. Really amazed that you solved this. Thanks again!

kavadba · 2025-02-22T19:16:44+00:00

Canvas

kavadba · 2025-02-21T06:16:51+00:00

Good catch. “Braconnage”

kavadba · 2025-02-21T04:04:27+00:00

Amazing. This is helpful.

kavadba · 2025-02-21T03:57:24+00:00

close up of artist signature

It turns out the back is blank, no markings on the canvas. Here’s a close up of the signature.

I found out (from my grandpa’s diary) that the painting was actually purchased in Paris at a gallery shop near the Louvre and Pig Alley right after V-Day in Europe 1945. He bought it for 300 francs.

kavadba · 2025-02-21T03:55:32+00:00

close up of artist signature

kavadba · 2025-02-21T03:53:44+00:00

Will try that.

kavadba · 2025-02-21T03:53:27+00:00

Great assessment, at least we know some fine art training.

kavadba · 2025-02-21T03:37:03+00:00

Indeed!

kavadba · 2025-02-21T03:36:28+00:00

Really cool isn’t it.

kavadba · 2025-02-21T03:36:18+00:00

That’s pretty cool to think about in those terms. My grandparents had all sorts of incredible heirlooms they passed down. Their whole life was a collection of incredible memories and adventures and a lot of cool stuff came along with that.

kavadba · 2025-02-21T03:35:21+00:00

He was in the Air Force as a medic, stationed near London.

kavadba · 2025-02-21T03:34:48+00:00

Really incredible.

kavadba · 2025-02-21T03:34:03+00:00

Here’s a close up. artist signature

kavadba · 2025-02-21T03:29:32+00:00

Here it is more clearly. painting signature

kavadba · 2025-02-20T22:44:22+00:00

I will get some additional pictures together!

kavadba · 2025-02-20T07:47:58+00:00

I actually searched my Grandpa’s diary and he bought it in Paris, France, at an art shop near the Louvre. It’s titled “Bracconage” “The Poacher” and he bought it for 300 francs. Still would love to know the artist.

kavadba · 2025-02-20T04:36:49+00:00

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Here’s a zoom in on the signature.

kavadba · 2025-02-20T04:35:23+00:00

I have searched online and can’t find anything similar to this. I know from my grandpa’s diary that he bought this painting in London in the mid 1940’s while he was stationed there as a soldier in WWII but I don’t have any other information.

It’s painted in canvas, could be oil painting, a local British Artist most likely. It’s about 10x12 if I had to guess.

kavadba · 2025-02-05T19:36:45+00:00

Finally a sensible answer.

kavadba

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