#48 • Jules B. Dahlager "An Early Visitor" Oil Painting of Sitka Blacktail Deer

Part of June 2026 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $1,200.00

Status: Sold

Category: Art

A fantastic oil on board entitled An Early Visitor by pioneering Alaska artist Jules B. Dahlager (1884-1952), among the most recognized painters of Alaska's formative art movement. Often grouped alongside Sydney Laurence, Eustace Ziegler, and Ted Lambert as one of the celebrated "Alaska Four," Dahlager helped define the visual identity of Alaska during the first half of the twentieth century through his romantic and atmospheric depictions of the territory's mountains, forests, waterways, and remote wilderness. This particularly desirable work depicts a solitary Sitka blacktail deer standing atop a rocky shoreline overlooking the tranquil waters of Fawn Lake near Ketchikan, Alaska. Rendered in rich jewel-like tones of violet, blue, gold, and green, the composition captures the quiet stillness of an early summer morning as reflected light dances across the water and distant mountain ridges recede into the background. The deer pauses alertly upon the outcrop, serving as both focal point and symbolic embodiment of Alaska's untamed wilderness. What makes this painting especially noteworthy is its subject matter. While Dahlager is best known for landscapes, mountain vistas, coastal scenes, and wilderness panoramas, depictions featuring living wildlife as the primary subject are exceptionally uncommon within his body of work. The presence of a prominently featured Sitka blacktail deer elevates this painting well beyond the typical Dahlager landscape and makes it a particularly scarce and desirable example for collectors- it is difficult to overstate how infrequently animal subjects of this nature appear in Dahlager's known works. Born in Wisconsin, Dahlager arrived in Alaska during the territorial era and became one of the state's most influential early painters. His works were widely exhibited and collected throughout Alaska and beyond, helping establish the romantic visual tradition that continues to define Alaska landscape painting today. His paintings remain highly sought after for their historical significance, strong regional identity, and connection to Alaska's pioneering artistic heritage. Signed lower right and dating to approximately 1930, the painting retains its original frame and is accompanied by handwritten inscriptions and an older gallery label en verso identifying the work. Measures approximately 9.5" x 11.5" overall with a sight view of 6" x 8". Provenance: Private Collection, Anchorage, AK A.J. Kollar Fine Paintings- Seattle, WA