As with many Europeans in the years before the two world wars, German-born Emil Holzhauer’s dream was to find his way to the land of hope and opportunity—the United States. At the age of 19, he was able to make that journey, ending up in New York City in 1906.

Armed with the skills acquired in the metalcraft factories of his native southern Germany, young Holzhauer readily found work in the New World. Evenings and weekends found Holzhauer pursuing his passion—studying art. His favorite classes were at the New York School of Art, where he was taught by Robert Henri, founder of the Ashcan School and one of the most renowned art instructors of his day.

As a member of Henri’s circle, Emil Holzhauer discovered the coast of Maine. His haunts included rugged Monhegan Island and the picturesque town of Port Clyde. Returning again and again from the1930s to the 1960s, Holzhauer painted Monhegan’s magnificent headlands and busy fishing village life, but he was especially taken with the gear that lay in stacks of controlled chaos both inside and outside the lobster shacks—piles of colorful lobster buoys, round-topped lobster traps, and the empty green and brown bottles used a floaters.

Holzhauer’s professional life really coalesced in 1932, when he received his first opportunity to teach art. After teaching in several college art departments, he landed the position as department head for Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. He would alternate teaching and making his own paintings until his retirement in 1953 to his home “Boggy Bayou,” in Niceville, Florida.

A modest man, Emil Holzhauer did not venture far afield to market his strikingly modern paintings. Nonetheless, his work found its way into many prestigious permanent collections, including the Whitney Museum in New York City, the High Museum in Atlanta, and Chicago Institute of Art.

The opening reception for “EMIL HOLZHAUER: Monhegan and Port Clyde Paintings”is Friday, May 2, from 5 to 8 pm. The show runs through June 3. Gleason Fine Art, Portland, is located at 545 Congress Street in Portland. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, 11 am to 6 pm and Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm, anytime by appointment. Contact the gallery by calling 207-699-5599, or by email at info@gleasonfineart.com.