This early 20th-century oil painting by Danish artist Søren Christian Bjulf (1890-1958) depicts the fish market at Gammel Strand, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bjulf was obsessed with this environment, producing dozens of works depicting the bustle of the market. The son of a fishmonger, he felt at home around fishwives and their wares. The Gammel Strand attracted vendors from the surrounding villages, particularly those from the hamlet of Skovshoved. As you can see, it was a little chilly at times, so the ladies would bundle themselves up in various layers.
Weaving through the market, across the cobbles, numerous shoppers barter for the best prices. These include a woman in the foreground dressed in fashionable attire. It’s possible that she’s the artist’s wife who modelled for him on numerous occasions. She appears in many of his street scenes, sometimes dressed in a similar way.
This particular scene is one of the most interesting we’ve encountered by Bjulf and a fine example of his work. In a strange twist of fate, he died in 1958 - the year the fish market closed.
Signed lower left and framed.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 42” x 35” / 109cm x 89cm
Year of creation: c. 1925
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £4,000
Søren Christian Bjulf studied in Düsseldorf and Paris.
Learn more about Søren Christian Bjulf 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 restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
