J.F. Willumsen

Jens Ferdinand Willumsen trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and at The Artists’ Independent Study Schools in Copenhagen. After his studies he travelled abroad, and from 1890 to 1894 he settled in Paris, where he was influenced by the new, Symbolist currents in art.

Willumsen possessed a talent and range that has few peers in all of Danish art history, dealing with both painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, graphics and architecture. Today, he is particularly recognised for his personal and – predominantly – expressive style, where bold colours and short, rapid brushstrokes are consistent features of his style. Other than this, Willumsen was particularly interested in the representation of movement, natural metaphysics, (self)staging and existential issues.

On his death in 1958, Willumsen left behind an impressive and extensive production from an active artistic life that spanned more than seventy years. Although harsh judgments were passed on his art at the time, he is now celebrated as one of the most original artists in Danish art history.