Maurice Braun (1877 - 1941). Maurice Braun was born in Nagykanizsa, Hungary, and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1881, settling in New York City. He began his formal art training at the National Academy of Design in 1897, studying under Francis Coates Jones and Edgar M. Ward. In 1902, he continued his studies under William Merritt Chase, whose emphasis on Impressionist techniques, particularly the use of color and light, significantly influenced Braun's work. Early in his career, Braun painted portraits in New York but later transitioned to landscape painting after relocating to California. In 1909, Braun moved to San Diego, where he quickly established himself in the local art community. He founded the San Diego Fine Arts Society in 1915, which later became the San Diego Museum of Art, and was also involved in founding the California Art Club. His work primarily focused on capturing the diverse landscapes of Southern California, including coastal scenes, deserts, and mountains, as well as landscapes of the Sierra Nevada and New Mexico. Braun was deeply influenced by the natural beauty of California and sought to convey the atmospheric qualities of the state's varied environments in his work. Braun's style emphasized clarity of form and light, setting him apart from other American Impressionists of the time, who often used a more abstract approach. His landscapes are noted for their realistic portrayal of natural light and subtle shifts in tone, influenced by his detailed study of the works of old masters and European Impressionists. Over the course of his career, Braun exhibited his work widely, including at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915, where he won a gold medal. He also held memberships in prestigious art organizations such as the National Academy of Design and the Salmagundi Club in New York. Braun's work influenced other California-based artists, particularly those involved in the plein air painting movement. He continued painting landscapes until his death in San Diego in 1941. Before moving to California, Maurice Braun spent time in New England, where he painted landscapes inspired by the region's varied terrain. In the early 1900s, while still living in New York, Braun traveled to rural areas of Connecticut and Massachusetts to capture the distinctive seasonal changes of the New England countryside. His work during this period included scenes of rolling hills, forests, and coastal views, with an emphasis on the effects of light and atmosphere. These paintings reflected his growing interest in Impressionism, particularly in how natural light interacted with the landscape. The muted tones and soft brushwork of his New England scenes showed his evolving style, which later became more vibrant and expansive when he transitioned to painting the Western landscapes of California. Though his time in New England was relatively short, it played a key role in his artistic development, providing him with foundational experience in plein air painting and setting the stage for his later work on the West Coast.