Olaf Carl Seltzer (1877-1957) Lived/Active; Montana, New York, Denmark

Bucking Bronco
Signed and dated (l.l.): OC Seltzer, 1908
Watercolor on paper
14 x 11, 21 ½” x 18 ½” (frame)
Over-all in excellent condition, housed in the original frame.
This well-executed and well-preserved watercolor of a Bucking Bronco, an iconic Western subject matter, is an excellent example of Olaf Carl Seltzer’s work. Frequently, Seltzer’s watercolors and paintings are mistaken for the work of the more important and expensive works of his close friend and mentor, Charles M. Russell. Seltzer’s Western paintings and watercolors have become highly sought-after in their own right.
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1877, young Olaf first studied art at the Technical Institute in Copenhagen. After his father’s death, Carl accompanied his mother to America. They landed in New York City but continued on to Great Falls, Montana to start a new life. After arriving in Montana in 1883, Seltzer worked as a cowboy, wrangling horses for Yellowstone Stage Lines. The following year he began working for the Great Northern Railway, first as a machinist and later as a locomotive repairman. While working for the railway, Seltzer began sketching the local scenery and wildlife. In addition to drawing, the budding artist also used watercolors. It wasn’t until 1901 that he began using oil paints.