Vilhelm Hammershoi: Painting as Poetry

The ultimate story of Vilhelm Hammershøi – one of the greatest Danish artists of all times

The Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864–1916) is world-famous for his greyscale interiors, and his paintings are purchased at sky-high prices by Danish and international museums.

Hammershøi’s unique paintings attracted international attention early on and marked a new form of expression in harmony with the era around 1900. Hammershøi is particularly known for his interiors but is at least as interesting as an architectural and landscape painter. Hammershøi’s art contains deep existential complications, and his work testifies to strong human integrity, solitude, meditative thoughtfulness, erotic fascination, and opens suggestively toward an inner world and a metaphysical perception of light.

The book synthesizes Henrik Wivel’s extensive knowledge of Hammershøi and the era in which he lived with perspectives on contemporary art.