Early Life and Professional Beginnings
Paul Lauterbach was born in 1878 in Kahla, Germany, within the region of Saxony. His early years were shaped by the steady, repetitive work of a porcelain painter. This trade required a certain precision and a familiarity with how color settles onto a surface. It was a life of careful, controlled movements, focusing on the small details of decorative objects.
There is little evidence of formal training in his early years. Instead, he appears to have been a self-taught artist, developing his hand through practice and observation rather than through the structured lessons of an academy. This independence allowed him to form a way of seeing that was entirely his own, unburdened by the rigid rules of traditional instruction.
Relocation and Activity in Milwaukee
After moving to Milwaukee in 1925, the focus of his work began to shift toward the surroundings of his new home. He found a place within the WPA Federal Art Project, working as an artist during the years of the Depression. This period allowed him to settle into the rhythms of the city and its local history.
His hands, once used to the delicate work of a porcelain painter, turned toward the streets and structures of Wisconsin. He looked closely at the details of Milwaukee, finding interest in the quiet aspects of local life. His subjects often included birds, still lives, and biblical themes, but there was a persistent pull toward the architecture and the everyday scenes of the city he now called home.
Artistic Style and Subject Matter
His brushwork often focused on the quiet details of daily life and the structures that housed it. He had a particular interest in local history, frequently turning his attention to the scenes of early life in Milwaukee. These depictions often centered on architecture, capturing the lines of domestic houses, fences, and the specific layouts of city streets. He looked closely at the ways people occupied these spaces, recording domestic occupations and the functional aspects of a working cityscape.
Beyond the streets, his interests moved toward the stillness of a subject. He painted still lives and birds, capturing them with a steady eye. His work also touched upon biblical themes, showing a range of interests that moved from the mundane details of a neighborhood to more traditional subjects. His approach was likely self-taught, reflecting a direct way of seeing the world around him.
- 17th and Hadley Streets, Milwaukee
- Old Schlitz Beer Delivery Depot
Notable Works and Collections
His watercolor and gouache on paper, 17th and Hadley Streets, Milwaukee, was created ca. 1938. This piece captures a specific corner of the city, focusing on the architecture of domestic houses, fences, and the quiet details of a streetscape. The work is held in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.
In 1939, he painted Old Schlitz Beer Delivery Depot. This watercolor reflects his interest in the local history of his home in Milwaukee. The painting is part of the collection at the Racine Art Museum.
