Oil on Board - Signaguessers we really need help!!

Old oil painting on board, framed. Signed but ??? Possibly the last word is Berlin?


It is signed in the lower left corner but its very hard to make out. Overall it measures 33x25, viewable area is 26x18. Frame is messed up bad. Any help most appreciated.

 

We see "Berlin" as well. Can't make out the washed-out / painted-over bit to the left of that, but the name above it sure looks like "Gunther" to us...

 

Multiple pictures of a signature, from different angles and in varied lighting can sometimes be helpful.

At least one picture of the sig taken dead straight on is always appreciated.

 

here is another shot

 

Maybe just my brain connecting dots that aren't there - but was the G in Gunther made to look like it has a swastika in it? Or is that just some strange way to for the letters?

 

i had a wee fiddle to see if i could make it any clearer. i think in might be three words

 

J Günther, Berlin.
It is a lovely painting, wildrose. There is no date, but my guess would be 1930s-40s.

It's those nasty dots in our brain that play havoc with perception.
This would have been pretty close to Entartete Kunst (Degenerate Art) in the period of the Austrian Madman, so possibly prohibited. Very few German artists of the day were in favour of the party behind the Swastika.

 

Thats what I see, to.

 

Do you think the 1850 in the middle of the other numbers could be a viable date??

 

I was thinking that is a possibility.

 

Easier to believe that those are notes by the framer.

 

I see 4850 too, and agree with Jivvy, all numbers on the back are probably notes by the framer.

The style of the painting is much too late for 1850. Imo this was painted by someone who knew both Impressionism and Expressionism. It has hints of both, which is typical of the style that was popular in the 30s-40s.

 

Can't say for sure but I've seen a "1" written almost like a steep 7 or a teepee, I think first by someone from France as I recall. Anyway, I think I see 1850.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handwriting_variations,_numeral_1.svg

 

I also see "1850" -- I just don't believe it's a date.