Biography

Hanson Duvall Puthuff was an American landscape painter and muralist, born on August 21, 1875, in Waverly, Missouri. He pursued his artistic education at the Art Institute of Chicago and later at the University of Denver Art School. In 1903, Puthuff moved to Los Angeles, where he initially worked as a commercial artist, painting billboards while dedicating his free time to landscape painting. By 1926, he shifted his focus entirely to fine art, becoming renowned for his lyrical depictions of the Southern California deserts. Puthuff was a pivotal figure in the California art scene, co-founding both the California Art Club and the Laguna Beach Art Association. His work received significant recognition, including awards from the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition and the Panama–California Exposition. His paintings are part of prestigious collections, such as those at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Laguna Art Museum. Puthuff's contributions to art also include dioramas at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum. He passed away on May 12, 1972, in Corona del Mar, California. Puthuff's work remains highly collectible for its vibrant portrayal of the American West and its historical significance in early 20th-century American art.