So then there are catalogs, etc.?

Name?

Tom

Okay, so if he successfully lived off his art, can his widow remember how he used to sell it while alive?
Can she and you work through those networks?

He lived most of his career life in America. The paintings were shipped back to Switzerland. She didn't involve in his business and doesn't know much about arts. Anyway, she's thinking about donating them to a museum

Well, if he had success abroad, it must be traceable.
In that case, maybe she will find a museum that may actually want the paintings. If there's no evidence of their having had a value, though, she may find that difficult, too.
It seems to me that - unless he was only just making a living, and died at least 20 years or so ago - some internet trawling might well bring to light details of how he sold while he lived abroad.

That indeed would be useful information to know. I have no idea how they went about it. I suspect they had friends who had friends or something like that, and it was mostly a nice little paying hobby.

What's his name?

I think a lot will depend on the level of the professionalism.

Did he have a Gallerist? Was his work catalogued? Was he only selling at local amateur exhibitions?

If he had a Gallerist, then that would be an obvious starting point, although I would assume not as why have the paintings shipped to Switzerland in that case.

Has his widow returned to his home Geminde? If so, perhaps the local Gemeinde might be interested in exhibiting his work which would generate interest and certainly any local arts/cultural group would be a good contact.

It seems a little odd that his widow doesn't know very much about his profession, but obviously We don't know her age or her state of mind. She clearly rates his work though if she feels a museum would take it.

As another Forum member stated, we are always interested in acquiring art if you were able to advertise on here. I do, however, think you would need to have a cv of the artist showing all exhibitions etc ready to sit alongside any advert.

No doubt you have had the opportunity of looking through the work. It must be very interesting.

This thread is useless without pics

Can we not see a sample of this painters images... maybe I'd like to buy one!

I would first of all look for people who knew him, other artists who worked with him, galleries who sold or listed him etc. Maybe you need to talk to his widow to work out the best people and places to start. It seems to me that she's maybe not telling the whole story. But she has to if she wants to be succesful. These people are most likely to know the customers who are most likely to buy. In the world of art, knowing or knowing a name can make a huge difference in the perception of a piece of art and the interest it is likely to generate. Even if he was a good and fairly well known artist, don't expect every gallery or dealership to know about him or to be interested. The world of art is just too big.