This finely detailed 19th or early 20th Century oil on canvas by Josef Wagner-Höhenberg (1870-1939), titled A Careful Wager, captures a quintessential Bavarian tavern scene alive with wit, tension and camaraderie. Four men gather around a rustic wooden table, their expressions revealing the psychological drama of a high-stakes card game. On the left, a man in a blue coat and felt hat studies his Wüttemberg pattern Binokel cards - a traditional Swabian game beloved in southern Germany. Beside him, a bearded gentleman in a green vest and feathered Tyrolean hat leans back with quiet confidence, a cigar clamped between his teeth as though holding a winning hand. Opposite them, a more somber figure dressed in black with a skullcap, perhaps a monk, sits more pensively, tapping a finger against his lips, weighing his next move. Behind him, a pipe-smoking companion in a rustic brown coat leans in, peering over his shoulder, perhaps offering advice or enjoying his friend’s dilemma.

On the side table rest a stoneware beer stein, a glass half-filled with amber ale and a clay pipe, all hallmarks of gemütlich tavern life. The entire composition resonates with the charm of rural Swabian tradition, offering not only a masterful painting, but also a nostalgic glimpse into cultural history treasured by many of German heritage. The painting is signed lower right in red “Wagner-Höhenberg”.

The painting is an oil on canvas measuring 27.5” x 39.5” and overall with the elaborate gilt frame measures 39.5” x 51.5”. The painting has been professionally cleaned with a small tear repaired by Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration, September 2025. The frame has also had numerous repairs to missing elements, but looks very good and ready to hang.

Josef Wagner-Höhenberg was a master of Bavarian and Tyrolean genre scenes, celebrated for his skill in depicting the everyday rituals of village life. His works, infused with humor and authenticity, preserve the social traditions of 19th Century southern Germany.

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