Jozef G. Bakos (1891-1977) Hail, Santa Fe Canyon 14" x 20" watercolor Signed and dated '27 lower right Verso: Gerald Peters Gallery sticker. $2,500-3,500 Provenance: Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM; Frank Croft Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM; Present owner, 2000, Private Collection, CA. Jozef Bakos was a prominent American painter & a key member of the Santa Fe art community during the early 20th century. Born in Buffalo, New York, to Polish immigrant parents, Bakos showed an early talent for art & studied at the Albright Art School. He moved to Colorado in 1912, where he encountered the dramatic landscapes & vibrant culture of the American Southwest, which deeply influenced his work. Bakos later settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico, & became one of the founding members of the “Los Cinco Pintores” (The Five Painters), a group dedicated to modernist interpretations of Southwestern themes. Bakos’ art is characterized by bold colors, geometric forms, & a keen eye for the interplay of light & shadow in the Southwestern landscape. His works often depicted the rugged beauty of the region, including its mesas, pueblos, & wide skies. Today, his work is recognized as a vital part of American modernism & the cultural history of New Mexico. Excellent condition.