Maurice Braun. 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 real