The Tucson Museum of Art has announced the gift of the Oscar E. Berninghaus painting, Alfalfa Time/Mountains in Taos, ca. 1917-1930. Berninghaus was a founding member of the Taos Society of Artists in 1915 and one of the “Taos Six” artists who defined a uniquely American and Southwestern school of painting. The generous donation comes from Linda D. Taplick and James W. Miller of Madison, Wisconsin.

Berninghaus excelled at Southwestern landscapes and figures. He attended the St. Louis School of Fine Art in Missouri and in 1898 he travelled to New Mexico and Arizona. Berninghaus became entranced by Taos, New Mexico and began to spend the winter months in St. Louis and the summers in Taos. He joined the newly formed Taos Society of Artists in 1915, a group dedicated to artistically capturing the daily life and atmosphere of the tiny New Mexico town. The Taos Society of Artists established Taos as an internationally recognized art colony.

 “Alfalfa Time/ Mountains in Taos captures an everyday, peaceful moment,” says Christine Brindza, Glasser Curator of Art of the American West. “Berninghaus conveys the fresh alfalfa harvest piled high on a horse-drawn wagon, using the purple-hued Sangre de Cristo Mountains as an expansive backdrop.”

According to Dr. Julie Sasse, Chief Curator and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, “This work is a perfect addition to the early 20th century Taos and Santa Fe paintings in the Museum’s collection. We are looking forward to displaying the work in the Museum’s John K. Goodman Pavilion of Western Art.”