Early 20 Cent. Danish painter. A work associated to his artist friend, colleague, brother in law (he married his sister Ida) and mentor Wilhelm Hammershøi (1864 - 1916)
A 3rd artist Carl Holsøe (1863- 1935) enters the inner circle forming the core of the Copenhagen Interior School. AKA painters of Sunlight and Silent Rooms. While producing works of similar nature each took a slightly different approach to their subject matter. For Ilsted who was closest to Hammershøi the feeling of his interiors differed. Warmer less austere less infused with anxiety and existentialist mood. Ilsted silence is never far from being broken. Tension triggered by the effect of light entering the room at angle bounces back bringing life to otherwise inanimate objects. the bust of the young woman seems to have reacted to the incoming sun rays. A nod to Pygmalion? A sense of mystery. Is someone about to walk in or it has already happened ? No one knows but it keeps the picture in the present while viewers react to what they see.
A narrative anchored in the present while Hammershøi creates a world that has stopped moving entirely.
Ilsted learned a great deal with Hammershøi but it is in their personalities that the differences in their art occurs. The use of pale muted tonalities but Ilsted has wider color gradation hitting warmer tones to accentuate the quality and character of light itself. You can almost feel the light. Captured inside the color pigments with light feather brush rather than building the surfaces on which it rests.
The picture shows a partial view of the dining room at Liselund manor where Ilsted spent his summers en famille between 1912 and 1917.
Notice 3 other versions of this picture plus 1 mezzotint (Ilsted was also a highly skilled and innovator print maker).
If you are in NY call or email us to set up a day and time for you and anyone who would like to take a closer look.
a great picture not to be missed or forgotten anytime soon. At least by me ;)