The Old Post Office

Joseph Kleitsch
The Old Post Office
Oil on canvas, 1922-23
40 x 34 inches
Gift of the Estate of Joseph Kleitsch in memory of his wife Edna
1950.013

Joseph Kleitsch developed a deep affection for Laguna Beach and vowed to make many paintings of the community and its environs, keenly aware that the charm of the small town might soon succumb to real estate development. The Old Post Office is one such painting. It shows a profile view of Laguna’s General Store on a sunny afternoon. A man sits on the porch as a dog regards the viewer from the steps. The store was where residents received their mail, hence the title. It was owned by Joseph Yoch, proprietor of the Laguna Beach Hotel, and operated by his brother-in-law, Nick Isch.