Throughout his lifetime, Alfons Walde took inspiration from the natural beauty of his native Tyrol, but just as much so from the local people and culture. Many inhabitants were farmers, and they were the subject of many of his paintings. These paintings feature a characteristic mannerism traceable to many of Walde’s works, namely that of depicting his human subjects as a “function” of their natural environment. He chose a style that leaves his human figures, be they in motion or standing still, virtually lifted of their individuality, one that emphasized the harmony of human beings as an active part of their natural environment instead. The sketch-like technique that Walde used to represent human faces are a distinct element of this style.

Around 1926, Walde’s artistic intention developed a new focus. It was no longer the genre-induced “comfortable scenario” that interested him, as he turned instead to a conception of man rooted in the concepts of work, fate and daily existence (See especially his works Holzknecht [Lumberjack], Bauernmutter [Farmer Mother] and Ofenbank [Oven Bench]).

With respect to both theme and form, Walde’s work is probably most closely related to the figural work of the Austrian artist, Albin Egger-Lienz. However, Walde’s living scenes retain a decidedly more positive note, as he preferred not to approach “life and death” subjects directly in his paintings – something that Egger-Lienz did ever more frequently in his later work.

A quote attributed to Gustinus Ambrosi: “No person with an understanding of your (Walde’s) art would possibly compare you to Egger-Lienz. I mean, he (Egger-Lienz) may also have the large surfaces, but he doesn’t have the form. You have the necessary youth, the strength to pursue form.”

Walde responded: “I would never deny that Egger has had an influence on me. I hate lying… but I made those small paintings with themes of farm life at the age of 18, before I even knew Egger.”

				Farmers on the table “Bauern am Tisch”, about 1928 Oil on Cardboard, Wien, Österreichische Nationalbank
				Ovenbench “Bauernstube (Feierabend)”, 1928 Oil on Cardboard, 19,29 x 26,77 in (49 x 68 cm) Kitzbühel, Museum Kitzbühel
				Northtyrol “Nordtirol”, 1928 Tempera on Paper, 35,43 x 98,43 in (90 x 250 cm) Kitzbühel, Museum Kitzbühel
				Southtyrol “Südtirol”, 1928 Tempera on Paper, 35,43 x 98,43 in (90 x 250 cm) Kitzbühel, Museum Kitzbühel
				The Farmer´s Sunday “Bauernsonntag”, 1927 Oil on Cardboard, 20,47 x 15,67 in (52 x 39,8 cm) Kitzbühel, Museum Kitzbühel
				Farmer-Woman “Bäurin”, about 1924 Oil on Cardboard, 14,17 x 9,45 in (36 x 24 cm) privately owned
				Farmer “Bauer” about 1924 Oil on Cardboard, 36 x 24 cm privately owned
				Farmer´s Way Home “Bauer auf dem Heimweg”, about 1924/25 Oil on Wood, 13,58 x 15,55 in (34,5 x 39,5 cm) privately owned
				The Meeting “Begegnung”, about 1924 Oil on Canvas, 43,31 x 51,18 in (110 x 130 cm) Prof. Dr. Rudolf Leopold
				Churchsteps “Kirchenstiege”, about 1924 Oil on Cardboard
				The Way to Church “Kirchgang”, about 1935 Oil on Cardboard, privately owned
				Soldier on Leave “Auf Urlaub”, about 1928 Oil on Cardboard, 26 x 22,5 cm Innsbruck, privately owned
				Sunday in Tyrol “Sonntag in Tirol”, about 1923 Oil on Cardboard, 9,45 x 8,66 in (24 x 22 cm) privately owned
				Masks in the Snow or in Kitzbühel “Masken im Schnee”, 1926 Tempera on Cardboard, 10,63 x 8,66 in (27 x 22 cm) privately owned
				Carneval “Fasnacht in Tirol”, about 1926 Tempera on Cardboard, 13,78 x 6,89 in (35 x 17,5 cm) St. Christina/Gröden, privately owned
				Carneval “Fasnacht in Tirol”, about 1923 Oil on Cardboard, 17,72 x 12,6 in (45 x 32 cm) Wien, Kunsthandel Wienerroither & Kohlbacher
				The Dancers “Die Tanzenden”, Tempera on Paper
				Peasant Mother “Bauernmutter”, about 1928/30 Oil on Cardboard, 22,44 x 18,11 in (57 x 46 cm) Kitzbühel, Museum Kitzbühel
				The Way to Church “Kirchgang”, about 1923 Oil on Cardboard, 8,66 x 9,84 in (22 x 25 cm) Kitzbühel, privately owned
				Two Farmer-Women on the way “Zwei Bäurinnen am Weg”, about 1924 Oil on Cardboard, 23,62 x 16,73 in (60 x 42,5 cm) privately owned
				Skating Children “Kinder am Eis”, about 1919/20 Tempera on Cardboard, 11,61 x 11,02 in (29,5 x 28 cm) Innsbruck, Tiroler Landesmuseum, Ferdinandeum