August Frederick Biehle: Reckoning with Modernism

WOLFS is pleased to present the exhibition and sale of the remarkable Cleveland School artist August Frederick Biehle (1885-1979). The exhibition will highlight the breadth of styles that Biehle explored throughout his artistic career. This lack of commitment to a single style is one of the most distinctive features of Cleveland art between the world wars.

An early member of what is known as the Cleveland School of Art, Biehle made important contributions to the artistic character of the city during this era, including creating artwork for the legendary, prominent and provocative Kokoon Club.

August Biehle joined the Cleveland modernist movement in 1912, contributing to its gathering momentum. The son of a German-immigrant decorator, Biehle received his initial art training in Cleveland before going to Munich in 1903 and again in 1910 for two years of study.

“One of northeast Ohio’s most prolific and distinguished artists, Biehle combined masterful draftsmanship with a superior sense of design. He assimilated aspects of German Expressionism, Fauvism, and Cubism, and moved skillfully between a range of styles, from Jugendstil (a German modernist style) to American Scene realism. He also displayed his versatility by mastering a variety of media and techniques, from graphite drawing to painting in oil, gouache, pastel, and tempera.” – William H. Robinson