Artwork
Portræt af Ida Ilsted, senere kunstnerens hustru
Portræt af Ida Ilsted, senere kunstnerens hustru is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Vilhelm Hammershøi. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a portrait, the painting focuses on representing the likeness and presence of its specific sitter rather than employing complex allegorical symbolism.
The work is a portrait depicting Ida Ilsted, who later became the artist's wife. She is shown in a seated position wearing a hat. As a portrait, the painting focuses on representing the likeness and presence of its specific sitter rather than employing complex allegorical symbolism.
The image serves as a direct representation of Ilsted at this specific moment in 1890, prior to her marriage to Vilhelm Hammershøi.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting on canvas, executed in 1890. It portrays Ida Ilsted seated, wearing a hat, and was created as a formal portrait. The surface bears the characteristic muted tonalities and restrained brushwork associated with Hammershøi’s mature style, reflecting a quiet, introspective atmosphere.
The composition emphasizes the sitter’s stillness and the subtle interplay of light across the fabric and skin, aligning with the painter’s approach to portraiture that blends realism with a delicate, almost lyrical handling of form.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1890 by Vilhelm Hammershøi, executed in oil paint on canvas. It depicts Ida Ilsted, who would later become the artist's wife, shown seated and wearing a hat.
The work is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains located. The sources do not provide further details on commission, intermediate ownership, or acquisition history prior to its entry into the museum's collection.
The canvas measures 106.5 cm in height and 86 cm in width.
Overview
Vilhelm Hammershøi created this oil portrait in 1896, presenting Ida Ilsted, who would later become his wife, seated in a simple chair. The composition centers on her calm, direct gaze, framed by a muted brown backdrop that isolates the figure and emphasizes the quiet atmosphere typical of Hammershøi’s work.
Artist & collection
Artist
Vilhelm Hammershøi (), often anglicised as Vilhelm Hammershoi (15 May 1864 – 13 February 1916), was a Danish painter.
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