PASSENGERS ON THE SIDE OF THE SEA Watercolor, paper; dia. 23 cm (illus. p-p) Signed p.d.: F.Lach Asking price 2000 Estimate 4000 - 4500 Fritz LACH 1868 Linz - 1933 Vienna Painter with rich painting roots: his maternal grandfather was Ferdinand Geeorg Waldmüller, his uncle was Josef Hoffmann, and his uncle was Andreas Lach. From 1882 to 1885 he was educated at the Cadet School in Vienna. He then studied at the academies of fine arts in Vienna and Munich, including under E. Peithner von Lichtenstein and J. Hoffmann. Until the age of 32, he worked as a clerk for an Austrian shipping company; visiting numerous cities along the Danube. Since 1900, he lived and worked in Vienna, engaging primarily in artistic work: painting and printmaking. He was a member of the Society of Austrian Artists and the Albrecht Dürer Society (Dürerbund). He painted mainly landscapes, less frequently portraits; with a particular fondness for the watercolor technique. He was widely regarded as one of Austria's most outstanding watercolorists, succeeding Rudolf Alt.