Edward Cucuel (San Francisco 1875-1951 Pasadena) The apple tree, ca. 1920, signed Cucuel, oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cm, framed We are grateful to Dr. Bernd Dürr for confirming the authenticity of this work. Provenance: Private collection, Belgium Literature: Fritz von Ostini, Der Maler Edward Cucuel, Zürich-Wien-Leipzig, 1924, page 80, ill. plate 69. After travelling widely across Europe, Cucuel lived and worked in and around Munich from 1907 onwards. It was here where he painted the present works. Influenced by French Impressionism, Cucuel conveys not only a sense of liberation in style, but a true enjoyment of life, his favourite subjects being picnics, promenades and boating trips, as well as scenes of nature featuring young women. Apple Blossom (lot 69) and Under the Gold Rain (lot 70) are a feast of dappled sunlight and luscious foliage. Cucuel succeeds by his use of light and colour in capturing on canvas fleeting atmospheric effects, the warm light and dazzling colours as well as the depth of the lake he found there. In both works, a young woman is enjoying the beauty of the day. The surrounding nature is no longer merely a background, but creates the illusion for the viewer of being in the painting.