PURPLE FLOWERS "Original Mixed Media Watercolor on Japanese Rice Paper)

Cleveland, Ohio: Unpublished, 1959. Original Watercolor. Archivally matted (18" by 22") and ready for framing. Signed by the artist lower right portion of the image. Robert Laessig (1913-2010) studied in the Textile Design School of Plauen, Germany specializing in the painting of flowers. He also studied at the Art Students' League in New York City. For many years he was art director at American Greetings. He is listed in Who's Who in America and is a member of the National Academy of Design. He painted the official White House Christmas Card for five years during the presidency of Lyndon Johnson. He won an Ohio Watercolor Society Gold Medal, the Winsor Newton Award, the top award in the National Academy of Design Exhibition, and was a prize winner at the Butler International Art Show. Laessig is also known for using elements of batik, specifically treating his canvases and rice paper with a wax coating before applying his finishing imagery. That is the technique he used in painting Purple Flowers, this watercolor on rice paper. Provenance: purchased at auction when deaccessioned from the art collection of Andrew and Betsy Wyeth. It is in superb condition.. SIGNED. First Edition. Paper. Fine. Illus. by Robert Laessig. 14" by 18". Fine Art Print.