original george raab portrait of wife helen raab, owner of dawn manor and friend of frank lloof wright

george raab (1866–1943) was a prominent wisconsin painter, printmaker, and curator who helped shape milwaukee’s early 20th-century art community. born in sheboygan, he worked first in commercial photography and crayon portraiture before studying at the wisconsin art institute with richard lorenz and robert schade. he later trained in europe at the weimar art academy in germany and the colarossi art school in paris under gustave courtois. after returning to milwaukee in 1899, raab became a leading figure in the regional arts scene. he co-founded the society of milwaukee artists, later the wisconsin painters & sculptors organization, served as its president in 1917, and was curator of the layton art gallery from 1902 to 1922 with support from philanthropist frederick layton. he also taught at the milwaukee art students league and the state normal school. in 1923, raab moved to illinois to serve as educational director of the springfield art institute and later directed the decatur art institute. he was active in the milwaukee art commission and the milwaukee art association, which later became today’s milwaukee art museum. returning to milwaukee in 1937, he opened a studio on holton street and continued painting and printmaking late in life. his work includes portraits, wisconsin landscapes, and linocut prints of wilderness and industrial subjects, and is held in regional collections, including the museum of wisconsin art (mowa).