Georg Forster

Born in Bavaria, Germany, George Forster immigrated to the United States around 1866. He is listed as “artist” in the New York City Directory from 1866 to 1873, after which he moved to Brooklyn, where he remained for the duration of his life. Continuing in the tradition of 17th century Dutch and German painters, Forster was best-known for his sumptuous, highly realistic still life paintings of fruit. It is evident from his style that Forster paid special attention to textures and the effect of light on his subjects. These paintings suited American taste in that as symbols of richness and abundance, they reflected the national pride and optimism of the mid-19th century audience.
Forster’s work is housed in prestigious public collections including the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH; Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville, FL; Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO; and the University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, MI.