Arnold Ronnebeck

American painter Arnold Ronnebeck was German-born under the name Rönnebeck and Americanized his name after his immigration to the United States in 1923, where he was naturalized in 1932. He was initially successful in his native country as a sculptor and graphic artist, and was a member of the avant-gardes in the 1920s. In the US, he was especially known for his lithographs of New York City scenes, landscapes of New Mexico and Colorado, as well as depictions of Indian dances.

Ronnebeck initially studied architecture as his father wished, but then switched to painting in 1908 and went to Paris. In World War I he was wounded twice and awarded the Iron Cross. In the US, he married painter Louise Emerson (1901-80). From 1926-31 Ronnebeck headed the Denver Art Museum. After working for a time as an interior decorator, he produced paintings with surreal or cosmic aspects in the 1940s.

At the 1936 Art Competitions Ronnebeck submitted his lithograph Yacht Races, created in 1933 and printed in 1936. The subtitle indicated the location as Grand Lake, Colorado, a lake in the upper reaches of the Colorado River. There, the local yacht club held sailing regattas. The size of the print was 33.7 x 23.1 cm.