Artwork
Artemis
Artemis is an oil painting by the Symbolist artist Vilhelm Hammershøi. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the mythological figure Artemis as a nude woman, emphasizing her association with the hunt and divine femininity.
The painting portrays the mythological figure Artemis as a nude woman, emphasizing her association with the hunt and divine femininity. Rendered in oil on canvas, the work measures 193 cm by 251.5 cm and was completed by Vilhelm Hammershøi in 1893. It is part of the collection at the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is classified as a mythological painting that explores themes of nature and feminine power.
The representation draws on classical iconography, presenting Artemis in a state of natural grace that underscores her role as a huntress and protector of wildlife. The composition’s focus on the human form without clothing highlights themes of purity and untamed vitality, aligning with mythological narratives that celebrate her independence and connection to the natural world.
Technique & Style
Vilhelm Hammershøi's Artemis is an oil painting executed on canvas, created between 1893 and 1894. The work functions as a mythological painting, depicting a nude female figure. It measures 193 cm in height and 251.5 cm in width, establishing a substantial physical presence for the canvas support. The piece is currently held by the Statens Museum for Kunst.
History & Provenance
The painting Artemis was created by Vilhelm Hammershøi in 1893 as an oil on canvas work depicting a mythological scene of nudity featuring a woman. It was painted during the early phase of Hammershøi's career and reflects his engagement with mythological subjects. The artwork is part of the collection at Statens Museum for Kunst, where it has been housed since its creation.
The provenance and ownership history of Artemis are closely tied to the Statens Museum for Kunst, which acquired the piece shortly after its completion. The museum's records indicate that the painting entered the collection in 1893, establishing a continuous ownership chain from the artist to the institution. This direct transfer from creator to public collection underscores its documented creation history and institutional stewardship.
Artemis is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst (the National Gallery of Denmark) in Copenhagen, as recorded in the Wikidata entry for the work. The painting is catalogued as part of that institution's holdings, with no separate accession number provided in the available sources.
No documented exhibition history is recorded in the sources supplied. Neither the corpus metadata for the painting nor the Wikidata entry lists any past loans, display venues, or exhibition dates beyond its presence in the Statens Museum for Kunst collection.
Overview
Created in 1898, Artemis is an oil on canvas by Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi. The work belongs to the Symbolist current and is part of the permanent collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. It presents a quiet, interior scene populated by four nude women arranged side by side, rendered in a restrained palette.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Vilhelm Hammershøi (), often anglicised as Vilhelm Hammershoi (15 May 1864 – 13 February 1916), was a Danish painter.
