In this episode, we’ll be taking a closer look at “Two Females nudes” by Vilhelm Lundstrøm at the National Gallery of Denmark in Copenhagen. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. Displayed in the National Gallery of Denmark in Copenhagen is the artwork “Two Females … ” by Danish modernist painter Vilhelm Lundstrøm was created in 1927 and is pretty large and striking visually. It measures 196.5cm in height and 131.5cm in width.
Vilhelm Lundstrøm, born on May 26th, 1893, and died on May 9th, 1950 and played a pivotal role in the early stages of Danish experimental art. He is known for introducing French cubism to Denmark as he had already, alongside artists Karl Larsen, Axel Salto, and Svend Johansen, established himself near Cannes, forming the artistic collective known as De Fire.
Educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Art, Lundstrøm specialized in figure painting and still life, showcasing remarkable cubist portraits. “Two Females … ” illustrates Lundstrøm’s artistic prowess in the 1920s. This painting features two half-length females, potentially representing the front and back of the same model it looks like, with them strategically placed to occupy the entire canvas. The composition is both simple and monumental, with shapes distilled to their bare minimum, presented in a seemingly limited palette of brownish-yellow tones against a blue backdrop … it’s striking! The painting’s simplicity, both in form and colour, contributes to that impression.
We must emphasise that Vilhelm Lundstrøm’s artistic journey was significantly influenced by his extended stay in France during the 1920s, where influential figures like Braque, Picasso, and Cézanne left an enduring impact on his work. In acknowledgment of his contributions, Lundstrøm became a member of the Academy Council in 1937 and was appointed a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Art in 1944.
By Anthony King (c)