Monday, February 02, 2009

An Artist I Admire

My Swedish friend Poppins blogged the other day about her trip to Copenhagen where she and her husband visited the Ordrupgaard Art Gallery.  There they saw the works of many wonderful artists, including one of my favorites - Danish painter VilhelHammershøi
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The painting above is one of my favorite works (it's of his wife Ida, at their home).  I can't quite put a finger on what quality the piece possesses that so appeals to me, but I love everything about it, from the muted colours to the decor (that gorgeous tureen) and architecture to the sense of solitude and quiet of a private moment.  Even her dress is lovely (it looks like silk).  The painting has a gentle mysterious quality that is very captivating.  Hammershøi painted a number of these quiet scenes inside his own home and often included subjects with their faces obscured.  He liked to paint empty rooms, which I find quite amusing and lovely.
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When we were in Paris, I snapped a picture of the painting below at the Musee d'Orsay, where I was pleased to see his work in person for the first time.  This painting was also done at Strandgade 30, his home in Copenhagen.
Prints of Hammershoi's works are available at Art.com, where budget art lovers may feel right at home with no art snobs lurking about.

8 comments:

  1. Peaceful. That's what comes to mind when I look at this artwork!

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  2. I love Hammershoi, I was gutted I missed the London exhibition, a friend went and she raved about it

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  3. I love it! A true master.
    Ness xx
    PS- I only just realised you have chronic headaches. I can sympathise...I suffer with Migraines. They say it is a sign of an over creative mind you know!

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  4. These are lovely. They both make you feel as though Hammershol is letting you in on a personal moment of his life - I love them both.
    xo Isa

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  5. Love that painting-had never heard of the artist. And your blog is wonderful.

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  6. There is a certain quality of serenity that comes through. Thank you for featuring this artist's work. Were you surprised by anything when you saw the painting in person? (I am so often surprised by art that I see in person instead of in a book.)

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  7. Anonymous9:51 am

    I love the colours you are experimenting with. I am trying to adhere to a palette of Cape Cod Beach: pale blue, sand, buttercream and dark chocolate brown, sisal carpet, etc. etc.

    Your posts are PERFECT!

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  8. Lovely paintings, Terri! I love them too and it was fun to see them i real life. Maybe we can visit the art gallery together some time.
    xx
    Poppins

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