An interesting mid-century post-impressionist oil on canvas painting by Agost Benkhard (1882-1961). This still life depicts a calla lily blossom in a green vase upon a table.  This original oil is signed by the artist in the lower left in the Hungarian last name first tradition, Benkhard A. and dated 1939, possibly 59, but the thirties are more likely. The painting measures 12 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches and is in excellent condition, it is framed out in a simple modern hardwood strip frame, I believe the wood is maple. The reverse of the top stretcher has an illegible circular rubber stamp that is likely to be a Hungarian art export customs stamp.

Ágost Benkhard (1882-1961) was a Hungarian modernist painter known for landscapes, portraits, genre scenes and nude compositions, he focused on still-lifes in his mature years.

Between 1900 and 1905 Benkhard studied at the Budapest Drawing Teacher Training School under Bertalan Székely, Tivadar Zemplényi and Ferenc Szablya-Frischauf, as well as Simon Hollósy. In 1904 he went on study trips to Italy, Germany and also to Paris. An exhibiting artist from 1905, he presented himself for the first time at the Winter Exhibition, presenting his Self-Portrait in the Art Gallery. He participated in the founding of the Hungarian artists' association Kéve in 1907, and was later elected president. He organized the exhibitions of the association in Budapest, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Vienna and Dresden. From 1904 to 1922 he taught at the Budapest School of Industrial Design, then from 1922 to 1945 at the Hungarian College of Fine Arts, and between 1935 and 1937 he was rector of the institution. In 1920 he organized the Miskolc Artists 'Colony, which he ran until 1938, then between 1947 and 1948, and was also the president of the Miskolc Artists' Association. He was also a member of the Society of Hungarian Portrait Painters and the Munkácsy Guild.

Works by Benkhard can be found in the Herman Ottó Museum in Miskolc and in the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest.