The Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864-1916) has in just a few decades gone from being a peripheral artist from the early 1900s to Denmark's most expensive artist. Hammershøi's painting »Interiør med kvinde med klaver, Strandgade 30« (in English translated to »Interior with woman at the piano, 30 Strandgade«) was sold at Sotheby's in November 2017 for 39.5 million Danish kroner, making it the most expensive Danish painting at the time.
The record was broken last year, when another of Hammershøi’s paintings »Interior. Musikværelset, Strandgade 30« (in English translated to »Interior. The music room, 30 Strandgade«) brought in 62.8 million kroner in May 2023! Hammershøi, »the painter of the quiet rooms«, speaks to our time with its clear and simple style, but the true explanation is probably found in the fact that Hammershøi creates a visual universe that symbolically captures human existence itself. What we all have in common: life, happiness, doubt, loneliness.
This lecture will give you a unique insight into Hammershøi's life and work. Perhaps you will find out if – and why – Hammershøi is the greatest artist that Denmark has produced!
The lecture is in English. All are welcome.
Frederik Lindskov has a master’s degree in philosophy and a BA in art history. He is a practicing visual artist, inventor/concept developer, and independent entrepreneur. Frederik Lindskov is a popular tour guide and lecturer. He has previously been the chairman of renowned Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling (the Artists' Autumn Exhibition).