Here is an interesting item!  We are offering a Christmas card and an original black ink drawing or print of a dog.  At the time, 1958, the artist was running an art gallery at West 223 9th Avenue in Spokane, Washimgton.  I am providing a brief biography I was able to put together from online information.  What I find intriguing is that this highly interesting and successful artist ended up being buried in my hometown, Olean, NY. !   Furthermore, there must be some locals who know the stories of how and why Mr. Schaflein ended his days in Olean or how he ended up the in section of the local cemetery dedicated to US Veterans.  

I never met the man who I know I would have found to be highly interesting.   The only possible common connection I can think of would have been the local artist, Joe Sereno.  I knew Joe quite well.  He was a long time friend of my parents.   It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Joe knew Mr.Schaflein.  When Joe passed away I was able to get some of his things.  I am guessing that this is how I came to be in possession of this.   The biography info provided here comes from a biography published many years ago by the art gallery, Meibohm Fine Arts, Inc., East Aurora, NY..  The gallery is still in existence today having been in business for over a century.   

I am torn whether this is a print or an original ink drawing of the dog.  It most certainly seems to be the artist's original signed name on the dog illustration.  There also appears to be some charcoal effects to the illustration.  

TITLE:     Dog ink drawing (original drawing or print?) and a 1958 Christmas card.  

ARTIST:   Jacob "Jack" E. Schaflein.

DATE:   1958.

The ink drawing measures 3 by 3 5/8 inches.  The sheet that the drawing is on measures 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches.   The Christmas card measures 8 by 10 1/4 inches when folded.  Unfolded, the sheet measures 16 by 20 inches.  When folded into the card you have the black front which opens to the text and the print of Dominion Square - Montreal.   

CONDITION:   This art work and card are both in fine condition.  

BIOGRAPHY:             Jacob "Jack" E. Schaflein. Jacob "Jack" E. Schaflein (American, 1894-1986) painter, illustrator, printmaker, sculptor and architect primarily known for landscape paintings, figurative and genre scenes, European scenes, portraits, block prints and sculptures. Some discrepancies were found during research of this artist including variations of his name, birth/death dates and birth location, as well as other biographical information. We have compiled, to the best of our ability, information regarding this artist, however, if anyone has more exacting or specific information regarding this somewhat elusive artist, please contact us and we will update the biography accordingly.—thank you. Various online records having similar or exact biographical information list his name as either Jacob Edward Schaflein, John Edward Schaflein, or simply J.E. Schaflein. We believe that they are more than likely the same person, and that possibly the artist may have used both first names or changed his first name at some point.

Schaflein was born December 5, 1894 in San Diego, CA to parents of Austrian descent. In 1914, Schaflein moved to Canada with the intent of working and maintaining a dual-citizenship in the U.S. and Canada. By 1915, he began working for the well-known graphic arts firm, Brigdens Ltd. in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He later became director of the commercial art department at Brigdens during the 1920’s-circa mid 30’s.

Circa 1915–late 1920’s, he studied art in Montreal, as well at the Winnipeg School of Art in Manitoba and later under notable painters from the Art Students’ League of New York including, Charles Rosen (1878-1950), Eugene Edward Speicher (1883-1962) and Robert Henri (1865-1929). In 1918, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during WWI and was discharged in December of that same year.

Schaflein was a member of and exhibited with the Manitoba Society of Artists and Winnipeg Sketch Club and was also on the Art Committee of the Winnipeg School of Art. In addition, he exhibited in Buffalo, NY in the late 1950’s and later moved to New York State. He died on January 27, 1986 and is buried in Mt. View Cemetery (Field of Honor, 203), Olean, NY.

In a review for his solo show held from January-February, 1925 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Arthur A. Stoughton of the Manitoba Free Press wrote, “He is a good draughtsman. He has faculty for composing, and he has a vivid sense of color. Above all, perhaps, he shows a keen appreciation of the value of sunlight, and he has learnt by observation and experimentation how to follow the magic of sunlight in its vari-colored reflections and shadows, and its startling transformation of the hues of all objects. The modernist spirit is exhibited at its best in its search for means of expressing in pigments the protean changes of color in sunlight and shadow, and Mr. Schaflein has followed Nature far in seizing these effects and in suggesting them in his pictures. This is no mean achievement.”

Chronology:

1894- Dec. 5, born to parents of Austrian descent, father Jacob Schaflein, mother’s name unknown, San Diego, CA.

1914- August, moved to Canada to work and settled in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

1915-1917- Settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and began work at Brigmans Ltd, a well known graphic arts firm.

From 1916-1917- Studied at the Winnipeg School of Art, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

1918- June 1, enlisted in the U.S. Army during WWI. December 3, he was discharged.

From 1918-1919- Furthered his studies again at the Winnipeg School of Art, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Circa late 1910’s-1920- Studied under notable painters from the Art Students’ League of New York such as Charles Rosen (1878-1950), Eugene Edward Speicher (1883-1962) and Robert Henri (1865-1929).

From 1921-23- Furthered his studies again at the Winnipeg School of Art, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

During 1920’s-30’s- Was director of the commercial art department at Brigdens Ltd. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

1922- Exhibited, group show, Winnipeg Sketch club, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. July 7, Schaflein married Jessie Norma (Née Suttie), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

1925- January-February, exhibited, solo show, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

1925-26, December-January, exhibited, group show, “Royal Canadian Academy of Arts”, for paintings “The Pioneer” and “Noontide”, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

1926-28- Joined the Art Committee of the Winnipeg School of Art, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Circa Late 1920’s- Traveled to Europe, returned February 13, 1929.

Circa mid-late 1930’s- Left Winnipeg, and moved back to the United States.

Circa the 1950’s- Resided in Hollywood, CA, and maintained an art gallery there.

Circa 1955-1960- Produced sculptures and art sets from famous paintings for the Hollywood film director-producer Paul Hesse (Hesse Studios), and Harvey Prevor, head technician for 3-D movies. These pieces were photographed and reproduced as 3-dimensional pictures for display in homes, including the “Last Supper” which required over 900 hours of work. There seem to be references to Disney's The Jungle Book but I cannot find the specifics.

1959- February 1-14, exhibited, four-man show, “Four Nationally Known Artists: Jim Sessions, Lairdo Bernestt, J.E. Schaflein and Milo Lemus”, Sisti Galleries, oil paintings “Rolling Country”, “The Wood Chopper” and “The Pioneer”, Buffalo, NY.

1960- October 19, [for the first time in the history of art in Buffalo, NY] Schaflein bought the entire exhibit of 42 paintings by six Israeli artists, from the show at the Sisti Galleries in Buffalo, with plans to make a traveling exhibition to cities including Detroit, New York City and Chicago, among others. October, he retired from the art gallery in Hollywood, CA, and traveled to art shows across the country.

1984- March 26-April 26, exhibited, group show, “The Winnipeg School of Art: The Early Years, 1913-1934”, untitled ‘landscape’ c.1920 (31.7 x 27.3cm, Collection Mr. John Crabb), Mounted by Gallery 1.1.1, School of Art, University of Manitoba, Canada.

1986- January 27, died, and is buried in Mt. View Cemetery (Field of Honor, 203), Olean, NY.

Exhibited Other: Manitoba Society of Artists, Manitoba, Canada.

Memberships/Associations: Manitoba Society of Artists, Manitoba, Canada; Winnipeg Sketch Club, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; On the Art Committee of the Winnipeg School of Art.

Collections: Winnipeg Art Gallery, color woodcut on paper “Birds” 1926 (9.5 x 13.3cm), Acquired with funds from the Winnipeg Foundation, No. G-91-312, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; the Duke of Windsor; The King of England; Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, Provincial Archives of Manitoba, Canada, for the oil painting “Red River Settlers” (Early settlers arriving at the Red River Colony, 1812, with the first governor of the colony, Miles Macdonell), 1924 Calendar Illustration; McCord Museum, for painting “The Pioneer” 1924-25, with photograph of painting (Photographer William Notman & Son), Purchase from Associated Screen News Ltd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Mulvey School, for painting “The Pioneer”, purchased c.1925, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Publications: 150 Years of Art in Manitoba: A Struggle for a Visual Civilization; An Exhibition for the Manitoba Centennial, 1970, Winnipeg Art Gallery, 115 pgs., Bulman Bros., 1970; The Winnipeg School of Art: The Early Years, by Marilyn Baker, The University of Manitoba, Prepared in conjunction with the exhibition “The Winnipeg School of Art: The Early Years, 1913-1934”, Mounted by Gallery 1.1.1, School of Art, University of Manitoba, March 26-April 26, 1984, Published with the Assistance of the Canada Council, Pgs. 94, 109, 123 & 131, 1984; Brigdens of Winnipeg, by Mary Jo Hughes, 36pgs., Winnipeg Art Gallery, Pg. 32, 2001.

(Written & compiled chronologically by Mark Strong of Meibohm Fine Arts, Inc., East Aurora, NY, 14052, sources: books.google.com, online digitized book, The Winnipeg School of Art: The Early Years, by Marilyn Baker, The University of Manitoba, Prepared in conjunction with the exhibition “The Winnipeg School of Art: The Early Years, 1913-1934”, Mounted by Gallery 1.1.1, School of Art, University of Manitoba, March 26-April 26, 1984, Published with the Assistance of the Canada Council, Pgs. 94, 109, 123 & 131, 1984; ancestry.com, “1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta: John Schaflein; 02 Roll T-21934, Pg. 47, Family No. 551”; wag.ca, “Art: John Edward Schaflein”; fultonhistory.com, online digitized newspaper article, ‘Pictorial Page’, Buffalo Courier-Express, “Four-Man Show at Sisti Gallery”, Pg. 14 & 15, February 1, 1959; fultonHistory.com, online digitized newspaper article, Buffalo Courier-Express, “World of Art: Works of Three To Be Exhibited At Sisti Gallery”, by Larry W. Griffis, Jr., Pg. 9, Thursday, January 29, 1959; fultonhistory.com, online digitized newspaper article, Buffalo Courier-Express, “Art News: Californian Buys Entire Israeli Show”, by Anne McIlhenney, Pg. 8, Wednesday, October 19, 1960; ancestry.com, Application for Registration-Native Citizen, Dept. No. 16439, April 8, 1918; ancestry.com, “New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957: Arrival New York, New York”, Microfilm Serial T715, Microfilm Roll 4431, Line 6, Page No. 54, Year 1929; ancestry.com, “U.S. Naturalization Records – Original Documents, 1795-1972 (World Archives Project): Jacob Schaflein”, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington, DC, Naturalization Records in the Superior Court of San Diego, California, 1883-1956, Microfilm Serial M1613, Microfilm Roll 1; ancestry.com, California, Voter Registers, 1866-1898: Jacob Schaflein; California State Library California History Section, Great Registers, 1866-1898, Collection Number 4-2A, CSL Roll Number 40, FHL Roll Number 977095”; almontgreen.wordpress.com, “3-D: Who is Doing What?”; ancestry.com, “U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010: Jacob Schaflein”; news.google,com, online digitized newspaper article, The Pittsburg Press, “Depth is Added by Pittsburg Firm: 3-D Pictures Now Grace Homes”, Pg. 4, Section 2, Sunday, March 27, 1955; ancestry.com, database on-line, “Manitoba, Marriage Index, 1879-1931; Vital Statistics, Manitoba Consumer and Corporate Affairs (vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/Query.php: Accessed 2 April, 2012)”; commons.wikimedia.org, “File: Landing of the Selkirk Settlers Red River 1812.jpg; Scan page of Hudson's Bay Company publication: Hbc au quotidian, automne 2008, p. 24”; mccord-museum.qc.ca, “View 23447: The pioneer, painting by J.E. Schaflein, 1924-25, copied for Art Gallery in 1925”; newspapers.com, online digitized article, The Winnipeg Tribune, ‘unknown article title’, Pg. 17, January 2, 1926; books.google.com, online digitized book, Brigdens of Winnipeg, by Mary Jo Hughes, 36pgs., Winnipeg Art Gallery, Pg. 32, 2001.)