Artist Karen Thorne Appraisal

Polebridge Mercantile Winter Scene Oil Painting by Karen Thorne

This is an original representational landscape painting on stretched canvas, depicting the iconic Polebridge Mercantile in Montana during a snow-heavy winter. The composition features the deep red facade of the historic building centered in the mid-ground, with the text 'POLEBRIDGE MERCANTILE' clearly hand-painted in a rustic white font. Three snow-covered vehicles are parked out front, and a bare, dormant tree stands to the right alongside a tall flagpole flying the American flag. The background consists of a dense, atmospheric forest of evergreen trees rendered in cool, desaturated blues and grays, which contrasts with the warmth of the red building. The foreground is a wide expanse of textured white and blue-toned snow. The artist, Karen Thorne, has signed the work in the lower right corner in script, followed by the year '2016'. The painting style is naive or folk-impressionistic, utilizing visible brushwork to create a sense of texture in the snow and the heavily wooded background. The application of paint appears consistent, with a matte to semi-gloss finish. The canvas is unframed, showing the painted edges continuing onto the sides. The condition appears excellent with no visible signs of cracking, flaking, or mechanical damage, suggesting it has been kept in a stable interior environment.