Carl Vilhelm Holsoe (Danish 1863-1935)
Portrait of the Artist's Wife Emilie with her Needlework
oil on lined canvas, signed lower right
Size: 28 x 28 ¾ in (with frame 43 x 44)
J20147
Carl Vilhelm Holsøe attended the Royal Academy in Copenhagen from 1882-1884 but then transferred to the Kunstnernes Studieskole, an independent study school. There he met fellow artist Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864-1916) and studied under one of Denmark’s most famous and influential artists Peder Severin Krøyer (1851-1909). In 1883 Holsøe married Emilie Heise, who was his most frequent model. He exhibited frequently from 1886 at the Royal Danish Academy and won numerous medals and awards. He was held in high regard internationally and became enormously popular throughout Scandinavia and the rest of Europe.
Holsøe was good friends with fellow artist Vilhelm Hammershøi from the time they attended classes at Kunstnernes Studieskole, and the similarity between their works is apparent. Inspired by Dutch 17th century painters like Vermeer and De Hoock, Holsøe painted figures caught in a moment of contemplation. His paintings are infused with natural light often indirectly shining through a window or doorway, capturing the Scandinavian Northern Light. His use of direct and reflected light have been compared to that of Vermeer’s. Like his friend Hammershøi, Holsøe often used his wife as model, often turned so that her identity is not readily apparent. However unlike Hammershøi, Holsøe avoided symbolic overtones in his interiors but rather emphasized the simple narrative beauty of a quiet moment in a quiet room bathed in soft light.
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