NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s announces the first sale of American Art for 2015 on March 25th, which offers a strong selection of 19th and 20th century paintings, works on paper and sculptures. The auction features a diverse array of Modern, Impressionist, Illustration and Western Art and includes wonderful examples by Gifford Beal, John Philip Falter, Carl Rungius, and Charles Ephraim Burchfield, among others. Comprised of over 150 lots, the sale is expected to realize in excess of $4 million.

Gifford Beal’s Lobstermen on the Shore (estimate: $100,000 – 150,000) is a powerful example of the artist’s work from his summer trips to Rockport, Massachusetts during the 1920s and 1930s. In the present work, set against a vivid sun-dappled sea of complimentary oranges and blues and a deep red sky, a trio of fishermen carry their lobster cages down to the sea. Lobsterman on the Shore speaks to the heroism and strong work ethic of the New England fisherman while simultaneously celebrating the natural beauty of the coastal town.

Also among the sale’s highlights is John Falter’s An Early State Fair (estimate: $70,000 – 100,000). Falter was one of America’s top illustrators of the 20th century, completing 185 cover illustrations for The Saturday Evening Post, as well as over 300 recruiting posters for the U.S. Navy. An Early State Fair depicts a nostalgic, early-20th century scene in the heartland of America. The composition demonstrates Falter’s hallmark attention to detail, where crowds of people are seen enjoying a leisurely sunny day at a state fair in Iowa. Various vignettes of wholesome entertainment—from the balloon salesman to the Ferris wheel and band—come together to create an image of an idyllic event during simpler times in rural America.

The celebrated watercolorist Charles Ephraim Burchfield is renowned for his landscapes of vivid color and movement. The Moon and Queen Anne's Lace (estimate: $120,000 – 180,000), which is being offered from an important New York estate, is a superb example of Burchfield’s rhythmic depictions of the sensations of nature.