Fritz Poock

Carl Rudolph Poock
Born	(1877-02-20)February 20, 1877 Halberstadt, Germany
Died	January 2, 1945(1945-01-02) (aged 67)
Nationality	American
Known for	watercolor
Movement	California Plein-Air Painting

Carl Rudolph "Fritz" Poock (February 20, 1877 – January 2, 1945) was an American artist born in Germany. He was a noted practitioner of the Plein-Air Painting style, an important movement in pre-World War II Southern California, and a part of the influential Arroyo Seco art scene.

Early life

Fritz Poock was born in Halberstadt, Germany in 1877.[1] He studied with Francisco del Marmol of Spain.[2]

Move to Los Angeles

In 1905, Poock moved to Los Angeles, eventually settling in the Highland Park neighborhood.[3] He worked in construction — including a stint at Manzanillo, Mexico, where he also painted[4] — and as a mechanical drafter until retiring at age 50 to devote himself full-time to painting.[5]

Career

Fritz Poock worked primarily in watercolor and was a member of the influential California Art Club,[6] painted a mural at Santa Monica High School[6] and had shows at the venerable Stendahl Galleries[3] and the Friday Morning Club. Upon his death in 1945, his wife Doris Poock donated paintings to the City of Los Angeles[7] and to the Southwest Museum of the American Indian.[8]

References

1. Hughes, Edan (2002). Artists in California, 1786-1940: L-Z. Crocker Art Museum. p. 888.
2. "askart". Retrieved 27 September 2012.
3. "Fritz Poock's Water Colors". Los Angeles Times. July 2, 1933.
4. Cook, Alma May (June 24, 1933). "Lucky, indeed, is Fritz Poock, artist" (PDF). Los Angeles Herald-Express.
5. Henry, H. Raymond (c. 1933). "Draftsman's Paintings at Stendahl's Show Fine Perspective" (PDF). Hollywood Citizen-News.
6. "California Art Club Historical Membership Roster". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
7. "City Given Painting of Old Courthouse". Los Angeles Times. Sep 23, 1945.
8. Masterkey, Volume 19. Southwest Museum. 1945. p. 167.