Food for the Soul

Last Friday was another hot day in Southern California.  I drove to Pasadena to spend the day with my friend Mary.  We visited the Pasadena Museum of California Art* for a wonderful exhbiit of works by the Hungarian Portrait and genre scene painter Joseph Kleitsch (1882-1931).  I had no knowledge previously of this wonderful painter and enjoyed his work immensely.

Joseph Kleitsch, portrait and landscape artist. Immigrated to the U.S. from Hungary shortly after the turn of the century. 

"Upon his arrival to the U.S. Kleitsch lived in Cincinnati and Denver and made extensive visits to Mexico before settling in Chicago in 1912. He established a studio and launched himself into the art and social mainstream where he was readily accepted. His exceptional capacity to paint realistic portraits filled with the personality, demeanor and essence of each subject established the artist as one of Chicago's most sought after portraits artists."

 Self portrait

 

 Fellow artist Robert Fullonton 1921

 The Oriental shop (The Jade shop) 1925



He was an in house portrait artist for the esteemed Stendahl galleries, then located in the Ambassador hotel in Los Angeles. 

Kleitsch moved to the artist haven of Laguna Beach in 1920. He quickly became a leading member of the art colony. 

 Laguna Avenue and Hotel Laguna 1930

In the twilight of his career Kleitsch focused on painting the bustling downtown streets of Laguna.

 

*Pasadena Museum of California Art
490 E. Union Street
Pasadena, California