This early 20th-century oil painting by Danish artist Julius Paulsen (1860-1940) depicts a middle-aged gentleman sitting alongside a table with his right hand clutching his head. Paulsen was an intelligent painter of landscapes, scenes and portraits who exhibited extensively.
A moment of contemplation, what’s on his mind? Is this a regret, pondered over by lamplight? A searing thought too compelling to expel? Or simply an astonishingly brutal hangover, lasting well into the following evening? We may never know, but the brushwork is both immediate and deft. It’s another little gem by this Danish maestro.
Born in Odense, the son of a shopkeeper, Paulsen undertook his training at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen - where he later became a professor. From early on, his significant skill was noted by his contemporaries, particularly with regard to his portraiture. He had an inordinate ability to capture a subject’s spirit with accuracy and expression.
His success was, in part, due to his ability to splice together approaches that were separated by centuries. On one hand, he was inspired by the old masters, particularly Rembrandt, yet also by the emerging avant-garde.
During his time at the Academy, Paulsen studied a range of classically inspired techniques from the Renaissance through to contemporary French academic painting. He was also associated with the Skagen Painters, such as P.S. Kroyer (1851-1909), who were inspired by the French Impressionists.
Imagine having the best of both worlds - studying the precision, symbolism, and drama of the old masters yet also working alongside those seeking to challenge the status quo. Paulsen was blessed and he took it all in his stride. He brought the old and new together to create something altogether his own.
By the early 20th century, his brushwork had evolved to become expressive, textured and gestural. His figures were particularly impressive and, at times, stylistically reminiscent of Rembrandt’s ‘A Woman Bathing In A Stream’. His admiration for the Dutch luminary was clear yet he introduced his own beautiful (modern) treatment of light.
Julius Paulsen remains one of the most underrated Danish painters of his generation. His respectful approach to the past brings sophistication to his desire to express a subject’s spirit. He’s represented in numerous public collections including at the Statens Museum for Kunst. His portrait of P.S. Kroyer currently hangs at Frederiksborg Palace.
Monogrammed in the lower left and held in a gilt frame, which is probably original.
Learn more about Julius Paulsen in our directory.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 16” x 16” / 41cm x 41cm
Year of creation: c. 1910
Labels & Inscriptions: Lundqvist & Olsen (Copenhagen) framer’s label on the reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, Denmark.
Condition: Cleaned. Revarnished. Frame in excellent condition.
Our reference: BRV1992
