Oskar Althaus, Portrait of a man magnificent oil painting

Artist: Oskar Althaus (1908 Frenkendorf, † 1965 Basel)

Title: Portrait of a man

Technique: Oil on hardboard

Size: 59 x 48 cm, with frame 75 x 64 cm

Signature: Monogrammed lower left in the picture - OA

Frame: Framed in the original wooden frame with various paint losses. (The frames are almost always with wear and tear. Please see the photos)

This magnificent oil portrait by Oskar Althaus delivers a striking and unforgettable visual impact. The face of the man emerges from a rich interplay of shadows and layered color, where deep, earthy tones collide with flashes of red, blue, and ochre. The brushwork is vigorous and tactile, giving the surface a sculptural presence — as though the figure were carved directly from pigment.

The sitter’s gaze is intense, introspective, almost unsettling in its psychological depth. The portrait draws the viewer into a silent confrontation: a mix of humanity, fragility, and quiet strength. Every stroke carries emotional weight, making this painting not merely a representation, but an encounter. It is the kind of artwork that arrests attention immediately, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who stands before it.

As a collectible object, the piece stands out for its originality, its emotional power, and its rare ability to merge expressionist technique with an intimate study of character. It is a painting that dominates a room—not through size, but through force of presence.

Oskar Althaus (1908–1965) was a Swiss painter born in Frenkendorf and later active in Basel. His early life was shaped by hardship, including the loss of his mother, after which he travelled across Switzerland and Europe as an artisan, absorbing diverse artistic influences.

In 1937, he settled in Basel to pursue formal artistic training, studying at the Allgemeine Gewerbeschule and under the Bernese painter Ernst Nyffenegger. Althaus developed a deeply expressionist visual language, drawing inspiration from artists such as Albert Müller, Hermann Scherer, and above all Georges Rouault, whose emotional intensity and spiritual depth left a profound mark on him.

Althaus was known for his rebellious, uncompromising character. He resisted the commercial art world, avoided gallery systems, and held firm to his artistic and moral convictions. His paintings, often raw and emotionally charged, reflect a sense of urgency and sincerity rarely encountered in mid-century Swiss art.

Though he exhibited in cities like Basel, Zurich, Bern, and Milan, he remained on the margins of mainstream movements. He died in his Basel studio at the age of 57, leaving behind a body of work that is today being rediscovered for its expressive power and authenticity.

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