Valdemar Irminger was a celebrated painter of genre scenes, portraits and religious subjects.

Born in Copenhagen to Johan Heinrich Georg Irminger, a colonel in the army, Irminger’s early aptitude for figure drawing was evident in the sketches he produced depicting soldiers. One can imagine the young aspirant handing over his finished works to his father’s associates, perhaps even for a fee.

At the age of 16, such was his potential, that he was admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts where he became inspired by the works of Danish realist painter, Otto Bache (1839-1927) - particularly his scrupulous portrayals of animals. As such, Irminger began his career predominantly known as an animal painter. Both artists were skilled draughtsmen and it was their drawing ability that underpinned their success.

In 1875, Irminger debuted at the prestigious Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition where he soon fell into favour with the hanging committee. Four years later, he was awarded the Neuhausen Prize, and cemented himself as an artist of note. Around this time, he shifted his focus back towards the military, producing numerous works, both scenes and portraits.

Valdemar Irminger, On The Way Home From The Drill (1883)

Over the next eight years, he undertook a variety of study trips to European destinations including Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the bright lights and buzzing ateliers of Paris. This smorgasbord of stimuli evidently enriched his spirit as he was subsequently awarded two medals towards the end of the 1880s.

It was from this point on that he established a reputation for genre painting - often capturing innocuous moments of everyday life and elevating them with a sense of poignancy. In ‘The Children Say Goodnight To Their Stars’ from 1898, two sisters, together with their mother, undergo a bedtime ritual. It’s a charming moment captured with sensitivity amid gently flickering candlelight. It’s in the collection at the Statens Museum for Art.

Valdemar Irminger, The Children Say Goodnight To Their Stars (1898)

When into his 50s, Irmigner took a teaching role at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts’ school for women and became a professor in 1908. Alongside this, for three years, he also served on the Charlottenborg Exhibition Committee. He was knighted with the Order of the Dannebrog in 1915 and decorated with the Cross of Honour ten years later.

Valdemar Irminger’s sincere renderings captivate the imagination and draw us into passing moments of human interaction. Via his candid observations, one gets the sense of an outsider looking in - an introvert seeking to understand the world around him.

He’s represented in numerous public collections including at the Hirschsprung Collection, Ribe Kunstmuseum, Skagens Museum, and the Statens Museum for Kunst.

Exhibited

Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, Danish Artists' Association, World's Columbian Exposition, National Exhibition at Aarhus, The Baltic Exhibition at Malmö, Venice Biennale.

Public Collections

Aarhus Kunstmuseum, The Hirschsprung Collection, Brandts - (Painting Museum of art & visual culture, Birdsong Art Museum, Horsens Art Museum, KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art Aalborg, Copenhagen Museum, The museum at Koldinghus, Museet på Koldinghus, Museum Sønderjylland (Kunstmuseet Brundlund Slot), Randers Kunstmuseum, Ribe Kunstmuseum, Skagens Museum, Skovgaard Museet, Statens Museum for Kunst, Vejen Kunstmuseum, Vendsyssel Kunstmuseum.

Timeline

1850

Born in Copenhagen to Johan Heinrich Georg Irminger, a colonel, and Agnete Marie Irminger (nee Kaalund).

1866-1873

Studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

1875

Debuted at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition where he continued to exhibit regularly.

1879

Awarded the Neuhausen Prize.

1880

Travelled to Paris.

1882

Travelled to Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

1884-1887

Travelled to Italy on a scholarship.

1888

Awarded an academy medal.

1889

Awarded the Eckersberg Medal.

1902

Travelled to Italy.

1905-1908

Served on the Charlottenborg Exhibition Committee.

1906-1920

Taught at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts’ school for women.

1908

Married the Danish sculptor, Ingeborg Plockross.

1915

Knighted with the Order of the Dannebrog.

1925

Decorated with the Cross of Honour.

1938

Died in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen.