The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 4, 2023

View of a Factory

1911

Albert Bloch

(American, 1882–1961)

America, 20th century

Oil on canvas

Unframed: 60.6 x 75.6 cm (23 7/8 x 29 3/4 in.)

Bequest of Dr. Paul J. Vignos, Jr. 2011.42

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

Many early twentieth-century artists, like Bloch, regarded factories as potent symbols of modern life.

Description

Bloch was the only American member of the famed avant-garde group Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), which was centered in Munich in 1911–14. Members of the group sought an emotionally direct approach to art making that was spontaneous and intuitive. Such qualities are evident in View of a Factory, a subject rendered in bold expressive colors.

Inscriptions

Inscription

The painting is signed lower left on the obverse: "Bloch." On the reverse, it is inscribed, "A Bloch 1911." On the left stretcher is the inscription "DBR Bloch 3," perhaps a reference to Der Blaue Reiter.

Provenance
Bernard Black Gallery, New York; Dr. and Mrs. Paul J. Vignos, Jr., Chagrin Falls, Ohio [1964]
Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2011.42