John Haberle: American Master of Illusion

Of the three great nineteenth-century American trompe l’oeil artists—William Michael Harnett (1848–1892), John Frederick Peto (1854–1907), and John Haberle (1856–1933)—the least well known is Haberle. Haberle approached painting with an informed and sophisticated connoisseurship. A highly original artist, he often alluded to complicated, ingenious, and entertaining aspects of contemporary society. The rarity of his work only adds to its allure. This catalogue, the seminal study of Haberle’s life and work, illuminates the artist and his witty works of art that continue to enthrall viewers today.