Joseph Kleitsch

In his teens in Hungary, Joseph Kleitsch was apprenticed to a sign painter, but he left after a short time to open a portrait studio. Although essentially self-taught, he quickly earned a reputation as a gifted portraitist. Around 1901, he immigrated to Germany and then to the United States, living for short periods in Ohio, Colorado, Kansas, and Mexico. Around 1909, he moved to Chicago. There he was active with various arts organizations and clubs and received high praise for his works, which now included landscapes.

In 1920, Kleitsch moved to Southern California, establishing residency in Laguna Beach. He was already acquainted with artists who had preceded him, such as Edgar Payne. Kleitsch was a bold colorist and employed a bravura brushstroke. He continued with his portrait work, as well as still lifes, landscapes, and seascapes. He held a deep affection for Laguna Beach and vowed to make many paintings of the community and its environs, very much aware that the charm of the small town would soon succumb to real estate development.