Armin Hansen
Encyclopedia
Armin Hansen native of San Francisco, is prominent American Painter of the En plein air
school, best known for his marine canvases. His father Hermann Hansen
was also a famous artist of the American West. The younger Hansen studied at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art and the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
, and achieved international recognition of his scenes depicting man and the sea off the California northern coast
. He was elected to the National Academy of Design
in the year 1926.
scenes of the old west. At the Mark Hopkins Institute he studied under Arthur Frank Mathews
from 1903 to 1906. Moving to Germany, he became the student of Carlos Grethe at the Stuttgart Royal Academy and also studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
. He also had exposure to the art centers at Paris, Amsterdam and Bruges. Wishing to see the world through marine eyes, he became a deck hand on a number of commercial vessels, one being a Norwegian steam fishing trawler.
and in 1913 moved to paint in Monterey
, a budding art colony of the era. In this period he utilized both painting and etching techniques in the style of Impressionism
. He was a founder of the Carmel Art Association and became enamored of creating marine scenes, particularly involving man's relationship with the sea. In 1914 he produced his Self Portrait.
In the early 1920s Hansen lived near the Stevenson House, and he often entertained other artists, including members of the Society of Six. By this time Hansen was not only one of the most well known California artists, but arguably the best teacher of the era. A typical Painting of his early period in Monterey, Men of the Sea, illustrates his bond with his subjects. In 1920 be began outdoor lessons for both C.S. Price and August Francois Gay. E. Charlton Fortune
also studied with Hansen. Hansen was also unique in that he had friends in both the avant gard Monterey School and the conservative establishment of Carmel artists. An important work of this period is The Salmon Trawlers (1923), which is in the permanent collection of the Monterey Museum of Art
.
In the 1930s Hansen's paintings become more intense and use of light more pronounced. One of his masterpiece's of this era was Sardine Barge circa 1933, which appropriately is in the permanent collection of the Monterey Museum of Art
.
Later in Monterey Hansen led a group of artists in opposing a plan to remove Fishermans Wharf
as part of a grandiose redevelopment
scheme. The wharf was an important subject of their art, besides the fact that Hansen identified with the simple life of a fisherman. These artists were considered a bohemian
group, living in the Peters Gate area of Monterey, but amazingly they prevailed against bigger business interests.
, William Frederic Ritschel
, Xavier Martinez
and others. The film, narrated by actor Jack Lemmon
won the Golden Eagle Award
from the prestigious CINE
for documentary films in 1997.
En plein air
En plein air is a French expression which means "in the open air", and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.Artists have long painted outdoors, but in the mid-19th century working in natural light became particularly important to the Barbizon school and Impressionism...
school, best known for his marine canvases. His father Hermann Hansen
Hermann Hansen
Hermann Hansen was a German field handball player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. He was part of the German field handball team, which won the gold medal. He played two matches including the final....
was also a famous artist of the American West. The younger Hansen studied at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art and the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
, and achieved international recognition of his scenes depicting man and the sea off the California northern coast
North Coast, California
The North Coast of California is a region which commonly includes Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties...
. He was elected to the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
in the year 1926.
Early years
He was born Carl Armin Hansen in San Francisco on October 23, 1886 and learned much from his father regarding portraiture and genreGenre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
scenes of the old west. At the Mark Hopkins Institute he studied under Arthur Frank Mathews
Arthur Frank Mathews
Arthur F. Mathews was an American Tonalist painter who was one of the founders of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. Trained as an architect and artist, he and his wife Lucia Kleinhans Mathews had a significant effect on the evolution of Californian art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
from 1903 to 1906. Moving to Germany, he became the student of Carlos Grethe at the Stuttgart Royal Academy and also studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
. He also had exposure to the art centers at Paris, Amsterdam and Bruges. Wishing to see the world through marine eyes, he became a deck hand on a number of commercial vessels, one being a Norwegian steam fishing trawler.
Life in Northern California
After his studies in Germany, Armin Hansen taught at the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and in 1913 moved to paint in Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, a budding art colony of the era. In this period he utilized both painting and etching techniques in the style of Impressionism
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
. He was a founder of the Carmel Art Association and became enamored of creating marine scenes, particularly involving man's relationship with the sea. In 1914 he produced his Self Portrait.
In the early 1920s Hansen lived near the Stevenson House, and he often entertained other artists, including members of the Society of Six. By this time Hansen was not only one of the most well known California artists, but arguably the best teacher of the era. A typical Painting of his early period in Monterey, Men of the Sea, illustrates his bond with his subjects. In 1920 be began outdoor lessons for both C.S. Price and August Francois Gay. E. Charlton Fortune
E. Charlton Fortune
E. Charlton Fortune was a famous California artist within the style of American Impressionism. Taught by William Merritt Chase and Arthur Frank Mathews, she achieved international fame for her paintings. Later in life she turned to liturgical design, receiving further recognition in this second...
also studied with Hansen. Hansen was also unique in that he had friends in both the avant gard Monterey School and the conservative establishment of Carmel artists. An important work of this period is The Salmon Trawlers (1923), which is in the permanent collection of the Monterey Museum of Art
Monterey Museum of Art
The Monterey Museum of Art is the only nationally accredited art museum between Santa Barbara and San Jose. Founded in 1959 as a chapter of the American Federation of Arts, the Museum’s artistic and educational activities have played a significant role in enhancing the quality of life for Monterey...
.
In the 1930s Hansen's paintings become more intense and use of light more pronounced. One of his masterpiece's of this era was Sardine Barge circa 1933, which appropriately is in the permanent collection of the Monterey Museum of Art
Monterey Museum of Art
The Monterey Museum of Art is the only nationally accredited art museum between Santa Barbara and San Jose. Founded in 1959 as a chapter of the American Federation of Arts, the Museum’s artistic and educational activities have played a significant role in enhancing the quality of life for Monterey...
.
Later in Monterey Hansen led a group of artists in opposing a plan to remove Fishermans Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, California
Fisherman's Wharf is a historic wharf in Monterey, California, United States. Used as an active wholesale fish market into the 1960s, the wharf eventually became a tourist attraction as commercial fishing tapered off in the area....
as part of a grandiose redevelopment
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
scheme. The wharf was an important subject of their art, besides the fact that Hansen identified with the simple life of a fisherman. These artists were considered a bohemian
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
group, living in the Peters Gate area of Monterey, but amazingly they prevailed against bigger business interests.
Posthumous honors
In 1997 a film Time Captured in Paintings: The Monterey Legacy was produced honoring Hansen, along with E. Charlton FortuneE. Charlton Fortune
E. Charlton Fortune was a famous California artist within the style of American Impressionism. Taught by William Merritt Chase and Arthur Frank Mathews, she achieved international fame for her paintings. Later in life she turned to liturgical design, receiving further recognition in this second...
, William Frederic Ritschel
William Frederic Ritschel
William Frederic Ritschel was a California impressionist painter who was born in Nuremberg, Germany on July 11, 1864. As a youth, he worked as a sailor and began sketching seascapes. He studied art under Karl Raupp and Wilhelm von Kaulbach at the Royal Academy of Munich before immigrating to...
, Xavier Martinez
Xavier Martinez
Xavier Timoteo Martínez was a California artist active in the late 19th and early 20th century. He was born in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, and, after becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States, died in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California...
and others. The film, narrated by actor Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon
John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III was an American actor and musician. He starred in more than 60 films including Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, Mister Roberts , Days of Wine and Roses, The Great Race, Irma la Douce, The Odd Couple, Save the Tiger John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III (February 8, 1925June...
won the Golden Eagle Award
Golden Eagle Award
The Golden Eagle Award is an accolade by the Russian National Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences of Russia to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, directors, actors, and writers...
from the prestigious CINE
CINE
CINE is a consortium formulated to depict American life and thought realistically for a global audience. CINE recognizes and fosters the highest quality of non-theatrical film and video production through its semi-annual film competitions....
for documentary films in 1997.