Artwork
A Mandolinist
A Mandolinist is an oil painting by Harald Giersing. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Technique & Style
No information on the painting's current condition or any subsequent alterations is provided in the available sources.
A Mandolinist is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel. The artist applied oil paint in a relatively smooth handling, typical of his early 1920s work, though specific brushwork details are not documented in the sources. The support is a rigid panel, which provides a stable ground for the paint layer.
No information on the painting's current condition or any subsequent alterations is provided in the available sources. The technique relies on traditional oil medium, allowing layered glazing and subtle tonal modulation.
History & Provenance
The work was created by Harald Giersing in 1921, as recorded by both the artist’s dated painting and the Wikidata entry for the piece.
It entered the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains located. Provenance details prior to its acquisition by the museum are not specified in the available sources.
Overview
Harald Giersing’s 1921 oil painting A Mandadorist portrays a solitary figure absorbed in music. Rendered in the sober realism of the Neue Sachlichkeit, the canvas presents a woman in a dark dress and hat, mandolin cradled against her torso, set before a cool blue background. The composition balances muted tones with a striking golden instrument, creating a restrained yet evocative scene.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a female mandolin player whose posture and concealed face suggest introspection rather than performance for an audience. The interplay of dark clothing and the illuminated mandolin may symbolize the contrast between the inner world of the musician and the external environment, inviting viewers to contemplate the quiet focus of artistic creation.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Harald Giersing (24 April 1881 – 15 January 1927) was a Danish painter. He was instrumental in developing the classic modernism movement in Denmark around 1910-1920. He is remembered as one of Denmark's most important…
