Bidspirit auction | Belle Goldschlager Baranceanu (1905-1988)

Belle Goldschlager Baranceanu (1905-1988) - BELLE BARANCEANU (1905-1988) WPA CHICAGO MODERNIST. Belle Goldschlager Baranceanu (1905-1988) Untitled (Chicago Cityscape with 'The Bobs') Mid to late 1920s The fine example from this female artist's scarcely seen body of work is signed within the image, lower center. It very closely resembles a Belle Baranceanu painting of the same size and medium held in the Bernard Friedman Collection of work by Chicago painters ( Modernism in the New City, Chicago Artists 1920-1950 ). The Baranceanu work in the Friedman Collection is titled The Bobs, Riverview Park. Like the work offered here, it depicts a view through angular, slightly abstracted structures to rolling hills, culminating in a glimpse of The Bobs , Chicago Riverview Park's famed wooden roller coaster, along the upper horizon. (The roller coaster was built in 1924.) This fine and rare work is one of no more than a dozen paintings by Belle Baranceanu to have ever appeared at auction over the past 40 years, according to the major art auction databases. Belle Goldschlager Baranceanu was Born to immigrant parents who separated when she was a youngster, Belle Baranceanu lived with her maternal grandparents on a farm in North Dakota and then attended high school and the Minneapolis School of Art in Minneapolis. She studied with Anthony Angarola, crediting him as being a major influence on her work. They also had a romantic relationship, which offended her orthodox Jewish father because Angarola was Italian-Catholic. However, the couple made plans to marry, but Angarola died in 1929 before the ceremony. In 1932, bitter with her father, she changed her name from Goldschlager, his surname, to Baranceanu, which was the name of her mother. Meanwhile Baranceanu had left Minneapolis in 1924 for Chicago, where she studied at the Art Institute. Although she gave much credit to her style to Angarola, she had a mature style that was distinctively her own. She did abstract, flattened designs of scenes of Chicago creating 'simplified shapes of the buildings into a balanced interplay of form and color.' (Kennedy 87).she did murals for the Public Works of Art Project in the La Jolla Post Office and Roosevelt Jr. High School. Source: AskArt.com biography of Belle Baranceanu, January 2026. Canvas measures 22 x 28 with a framed size of 28.25 x 34.25 inches. Without proof of exemption, be aware that internet sales tax applies to all Internet transactions and local sales tax may apply to local pick-up transactions. We happily provide seamless in-house packing and shipping services on nearly everything we sell. Until further notice, we cannot offer international shipping in-house. Dimensions Canvas measures 22 x 28 with a framed size of 28.25 x 34.25 inches. Condition Very good original untouched condition. There are no issues of relining, scratches, losses, repairs, in-painting or touch-up, as confirmed under UV light. Provenance Private Missouri collection including a scarce work by Anthony Angarola.