Carla Colsmann Mohr was a Danish painter of landscapes, figures, portraits and still lifes.
Mohr’s early development as an artist was shaped by a pioneering school, the Tegneskolen for Kvinder, established to help women gain access to artistic tuition. At the time, women were unable to apply to technical schools so it was a worthy cause and became a lifeline for numerous young ladies. It was run by Charlotte Sode (1859-1931) and Julie Meldahl (1861-1946), who clearly left an impression on Mohr as she later followed in their footsteps by forming her own school.
At 17, Mohr joined the Kunstskolen for Kvinder, which merged with the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and provided her with academic teaching under Viggo Johansen (1851-1935) among others. In Mohr’s early works, the guidance of Johansen is apparent but, when she begins to travel, her own ideas take shape.
Following trips to France and the Netherlands, her works begin to elicit a mosaic-like quality, at times almost Cezannian in their construction. Landscapes are reduced to planes of colour with depth suggested via changes in value rather than traditional light effects. It’s clear that her visit to France in particular had a profound effect on her artistic outlook.
Continuing to champion women in art, later in life Mohr established a grant for female artists in her own name. Her school ran for 14 years between 1914 and 1928.
Carla Colsmann Mohr exhibited regularly at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, the Den Frie Udstillingsbygning, and also Sweden and Berlin.
1887
Born to merchant Poul Jacob Johannes Colsmann and Nathalie Elisabeth Mathilde Colsmann (née Lobedanz).
Began studying at the Tegneskolen for Kvinder (The Drawing and Art Industry School for Women).
1904
Accepted at the Kunstskolen for Kvinder, which later merged with the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
1908
Studied under Viggo Johansen (1851-1935) at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
1908 & 1909
Travelled to Holland.
Debuted at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition where she continued to exhibit regularly, missing only one year between 1908 and 1974.
1911
Travelled to France.
1914-1928
Ran her own art school.
1921 & 1923
Travelled to Assisi, Italy.
1926
Travelled to Cagnes-sur-Mer, France.
1928
Married in Copenhagen to commercial gardener Sofus Mohr (1864-1943).
1962
Travelled to The Faroe Islands.
1974
Died.