Vilhelm Hammershøi

Vilhelm Hammershøi (15 May, 1864 - 13 February, 1916) was a painter born in Copenhagen, Denmark. He worked mainly in his native city painting primarily portraits, architecture, landscapes, and interior scenes. He is most famous for the latter, which are painted in a muted palette.

Related Topics:
15 May - 1864 - 13 February - 1916 - Painter - Copenhagen - Denmark

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Hammershøi was the son of a shopkeeper and had drawing lessons from the age of eight due to his artistic talent. He attended the Kongelige Akademi for de Skønne Kunster, Copenhagen, under Frederik Vermehren, between 1879 and 1884. He also studied under Frederik Rohde, Vilhelm Kyhn and Peder Severin Krøyer and enjoyed early success - particularly on an international level. In 1891 he married a colleague?s sister, Ida Ilsted and they lived together in Copenhagen until his death in 1916. Ida is the figure to be seen in his interiors and portrait paintings- often depicted from behind.

Related Topics:
Copenhagen - Frederik Vermehren - 1879 - 1884 - Frederik Rohde - Vilhelm Kyhn - Peder Severin Krøyer - 1891 - 1916

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Even though his style and technique in the middle of the 1880s did not differ greatly from those of the typical painters of the decade, his psychological conception is more characteristic of the 1890s and was not always understood by his contemporaries. In fact, a portrait of his sister in 1885 (Den Hirchsprungske Samfng, Copenhagen) was rejected for the Neuhausen Prize; the first step was then taken towards the creation of the Free Exhibition, of which Hammershøi was a founding member. His palette was already a harmonious tonality of grey from soft black, of which he was a true master, to white, accentuated by warmer colours. His interiors from the 1880s show that he had mastered the dramatic leap from intense darkness to full light.

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