This early 20th-century oil painting by Danish artist Frits Johannes Bentzen-Bilkvist (1865-1934) depicts a boggy landscape at Fakseegnen, Denmark.
Under a monumental sky with a striking diagonal cloud, the quiet landscape rests. Deep brown hues describe the foliage in the foreground, with lighter values to convey distance. On the horizon, a gentle peak rises above the broad expansive lowlands.
Bentzen-Bilkvist enjoyed such vistas and sought to elevate the scenery with a sense of grandiosity. It’s perhaps a paradox that he chose boggy terrain for such an epic composition. But nature itself provides ample drama when captured in all its majesty. Here, his clever design draws the eye towards a distant hill via a clump of dark green foliage. There’s an interesting visual guide from the water in the foreground, across the various tones, and out towards the distance.
Signed/dated lower right and held within a gilt frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 54½” x 41½” / 138cm x 105cm
Year of creation: 1926
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Frits Johannes Bentzen-Bilkvist trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and later at the Artists Free Study School under P.S. Kroyer, Laurits Tuxen and Frans Schwartz. He exhibited regularly at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition and also at The World Fair in Chicago.
Learn more about Frits Johannes Bentzen-Bilkvist in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
