German Expressionism Appraisal

Winter Street Scene Painting by Otto Lange

This item is an original oil painting by Otto Lange, depicting a winter street scene. The artwork is housed within a simple, white-painted wooden frame, which shows some signs of wear and age, including minor scuffs and possible discoloration, consistent with its likely period. The painting itself is rendered in a somewhat muted color palette, dominated by grays, blues, and browns, with touches of off-white to represent snow. The composition features a snowy street flanked by multi-story European-style buildings, many of which appear to be constructed with exposed timber framing and stucco infill, characteristic of older German architecture. Snow covers the rooftops and the ground, suggesting a cold, overcast day. In the background, the steeple of a large church or cathedral is visible, its spire reaching towards the sky, covered in snow. Several small, darkly clad figures populate the street, adding a sense of scale and human presence to the urban landscape. The brushwork appears somewhat loose and expressive, indicating a possible leaning towards Expressionism or a similar early 20th-century style. The overall condition of the painting appears good, with no obvious major damage like tears or significant paint loss visible from the provided image, though without closer inspection, details like craquelure or minor abrasions cannot be fully assessed. The artist's signature, "O LANGE" or "Otto Lange" is faintly visible in the lower left corner of the painting, confirming the attribution. Given the artist and stylistic elements, the painting likely dates from the early to mid-20th century.