Wisconsin in Watercolor: The Life and Legend of Folk Artist Paul Seifert

by Joe Kapler

Overview

In 1867, German immigrant Paul Seifert settled in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin and began capturing the distinctive farms and landscapes of his new home in vivid, detailed watercolors. Today, these paintings are coveted by American folk art collectors across the country, but Seifert’s life remains shrouded in mystery.

In this first book written about Paul Seifert, author Joe Kapler examines the life of this enigmatic artist and provides context for his extraordinary art. The book features high-quality reproductions of twenty-two Seifert watercolors (more than half of which have never been published) and many close-ups of his characteristic details, from horses and hay wagons to dogs and dinner bells. Part art history treatment, part coffee table book, part research memoir, and part love letter to the Driftless Area, Wisconsin in Watercolor shines a long-awaited light on Seifert and the land he so carefully rendered over a hundred years ago.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780870208928
Publisher:	Wisconsin Historical Society
Publication date:	10/10/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	20 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Joe Kapler is lead curator at the Wisconsin Historical Society. He has curated numerous major exhibitions, including the Society's 2014 exhibit on Seifert's art, Wisconsin in Watercolor: The Farmscapes of Paul Seifert.  He holds a master’s degree in American history from Marquette University and a master’s degree in museum studies from Eastern Illinois University. He spent three years at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids (Michigan) and joined the staff of the Wisconsin Historical Society in 2001 as a curator. Joe has cured seven major exhibitions and numerous smaller displays. In particular, he was the curator for the Wisconsin in Watercolor exhibition and author of a WMH image essay on Seifert.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS Introduction by Sarah Stolte UNDERSTANDING PAUL SEIFERT Iowa County Treasures EXPLORING THE LEGENDS Revealing Inscriptions SEEKING THE TRUTH Beyond Farm Scenes VISION Land and Rock Formations COMPOSITION Fragile Creations PROCESS Distinctive Skies LEGACY A Diverse Range Appendix: Known Watercolor Farm Paintings Acknowledgments Notes Index