Painting has rarely been as simultaneously enigmatic and fascinating as in the work of Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864 Copenhagen – 1916 Copenhagen). Dubbed the ‘Vermeer of the North’, he is chiefly known for his interiors and cityscapes: empty squares, spaces leading into nothingness, dim light falling in muted domestic settings. Where figures are present, they are occasionally reminiscent of the works of Edward Hopper. Their depiction of loneliness remains profoundly moving and topical.
The exhibition’s subtitle, ‘The Eye That Listens’, highlights the appeal of Hammershøi’s art to multiple senses. The silence in his pictures sensitizes us to the slightest sounds. His fascination with music had a particularly strong influence on his artistic style and pictorial compositions. Repeated depictions of similar motifs, often with only minor changes, reveal his experimental and innovative approach.
The exhibition also considers the role of his wife Ida Ilsted in the creative process, the increasing refinement of his interiors, and the links between those interiors and the cityscapes and landscapes.
An exhibition in collaboration with the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid.
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Ill.: Vilhelm Hammershøi, Open Doors, 1905, The David Collection, Copenhagen, photo: The David Collection
