Eugene von Blaas (Italian, 1843 - 1932): The Fist Act. Oil on board, signed below, label and artist's initials verso, framed. This painting is the original work that the artist later used to make enhanced photographic prints on panel.

An Italian painter born to Austrian parents, Eugene von Blaas, also known as Eugene de Blaas, became a late 19th, early 20th century figure and genre painter in the style of Academic Classicism. He was most associated with Venetian subjects especially voluptuous female water carriers. Many of his scenes, painted either in oil or watercolor, suggest male and female flirtation between fisher folk as they go about their daily business. The artist often used his wife, Paola Prina, as a model.

15 x 17 inches framed; 7.75 x 10.25 inches board

Luella Higgins; gifted to her son; there in by descent; 2004, private collection, Colorado.

Good condition overall; light frame rub resulting in small areas of paint loss around all edges, more so at the top of the painting; small surface scratch/ paint loss to the left of the signature; small areas of surface grime scattered through out.