Pencil sketch of gnarled forest trees by Carl Ahrens

Sketches

A surprising number of Carl Ahrens' pencil and charcoal sketches survive today thanks to his children with his second wife, Martha "Madonna" Ahrens. His sketchbooks were kept and distributed between Laird, Sigrid, and Chloris. The ones that once belonged to Chloris still largely remain with Carl's descendants today.

Featured Art

Charcoal sketch of a horse, Carl Ahrens — Horse
Charcoal on paper
16.5 x 26.5 cm
Unsigned. Undated.
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock

Pencil sketch of pigs, Carl Ahrens — Pigs
Pencil sketch on paper
23 x 15 cm
Signed. Undated.
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock

Charcoal sketch of forest trees, Carl Ahrens — The Road to Town
Charcoal on paper
25.5 x 20 cm
Signed. Undated
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock
This sketch was likely the one he used to plan the etching by the same name.

Charcoal sketch of campers in the woods, Carl Ahrens — Campers in the Woods
Charcoal on paper
25.5 x 20 cm
Signed. Undated
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock

Charcoal sketch of a house in the woods, Carl Ahrens — House in the Woods
Charcoal on paper
30.5 x 25.5 cm
Signed. Undated.
Collection of Fred and Deborah Downes
Photo by Deborah Downes

Charcoal sketch of windblown trees, Carl Ahrens — Windblown Trees
Charcoal on paper
24 x 20 cm
Signed. Undated.
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock

Pencil sketch of a figure climbing stairs, Carl Ahrens — Figure Climbing Stairs
Pencil sketch on paper
Size unknown
Signed. 1933.
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Chris Keith

Charcoal sketch of a village, Carl Ahrens — The Village
Charcoal on paper
Size unknown
Signed. Undated.
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Chris Keith

Charcoal sketch of figures walking up a hill, Carl Ahrens — Figures Walking up Hill
Charcoal on paper
18 x 12.5 cm
Signed. Undated
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock

Charcoal sketch of a river flowing through a tunnel, Carl Ahrens — River Flowing Through Tunnel
Charcoal on paper
Unknown size
Signed. Undated.
Private Collection
Photo by Chris Keith

Charcoal sketch of Mt. Tamalpais, California, Carl Ahrens — Mt. Tamalpais (California)
Charcoal on paper
Signed c. 1906
Private Collection

Charcoal sketch of four trees, Carl Ahrens — Four Trees to Left
Charcoal on paper
19 x 15 cm
Signed. Undated.
Collection of Fred and Deborah Downes
Photo by Deborah Downes

Charcoal sketch of a hunter, Carl Ahrens — The Hunter
Charcoal on paper
25.5 x 20 cm
Signed. Undated.
Collection of Fred and Deborah Downes
Photo by Deborah Downes

Charcoal sketch of trees on a slope, Carl Ahrens — Trees on the Slope
Charcoal on paper
18 x 14 cm
Signed. Undated.
Collection of Fred and Deborah Downes
Photo by Deborah Downes
The sketch was likely used to create the etching by the same name.

Charcoal sketch of an artist and model in the woods, Carl Ahrens — Artist and Model in Woods
Charcoal on paper
30.5 x 25.5 cm
Signed. Undated.
Private Collection

Black ink sketch of a landscape with figures, Carl Ahrens — Detail from Untitled Landscape with Figures
Black ink on cardstock
42 x 59.5 cm
Signed lower right. Circa 1880's
Private Collection
This piece is large and difficult to photograph without a glare. To avoid that, the photo was taken from the side, which necessitated a lot of cropping. The image is also slightly distorted.

Charcoal sketch titled Cain, Carl Ahrens — Cain
Charcoal on paper
30.5 x 24 cm
Unsigned
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock
This sketch is one of the only ones that Carl titled. It appears on the opposite side of the paper as Turkeys in the Woods, which is signed.

Charcoal study of turkey feet with notes, Carl Ahrens — Turkey Feet (with notes)
Charcoal on cardboard
33.5 x 26.5 cm
Unsigned
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock

Charcoal sketch of a twisted tree, Carl Ahrens — Twisted Tree
Charcoal on paper
20 x 25.5 cm
Unsigned
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock

Charcoal sketch of trees by a stream, Carl Ahrens — Trees by Stream
Charcoal on paper
28 x 20 cm
Unsigned
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock

Charcoal sketch of a twisted tree limb, Carl Ahrens — Twisted Tree Limb
Charcoal on paper
28 x 21.5 cm
Unsigned
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock

Charcoal sketch of turkeys in the woods, Carl Ahrens — Turkeys in the Woods
Charcoal on paper
24 x 30.5 cm
Signed
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock
This sketch appears on the opposite side of the same piece of paper as Cain.