Charles I. Brobeck (1888-1981) WWI Era Oil on Canvas

This oil on canvas painting features a rich color palette and depth to the scene. A woman stands alone on the River bank in the foreground, while the mid ground is dominated by a stone bridge as soldiers cross. The bridge is flanked by a village and hills with a late sunset resting on the roofs of the buildings.

Charles I. Brobeck was the Vice President of the Pen and Pencil Club in Columbus, Ohio in 1915. Mr. Brobeck served in World War I and worked as a mason and construction foreman later in life. Mr. Brobeck’s service during the Great War is the likely inspiration for this painting, which appears to depicts American soldiers marching across a stone bridge in a small European village. Mr. Brobeck was associated with the Columbus Art School and the Detroit School of Fine Art, and his work was featured in various American exhibitions including Salons of America.