Artwork
The Painter Kristian Zahrtmann

The Painter Kristian Zahrtmann is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Vilhelm Hammershøi. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
It was created in 1889 by Vilhelm Hammershøi and is held in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display.
The painting portrays the Danish artist Kristian Zahrtmann, rendered as a portrait in oil on canvas. It was created in 1889 by Vilhelm Hammershøi and is held in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display. The work emphasizes Zahrtmann's role as a painter, aligning with his prominence in the contemporary art scene.
The composition and presentation of Zahrtmann underscore his identity as a creative figure, reflecting themes of artistic dedication and individuality prevalent in late 19th-century Danish portraiture. The precise rendering of his likeness and the subdued palette convey a sense of introspection and professional authority, reinforcing his status as a significant cultural contributor during this period.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, a medium typical of late 19th‑century Danish portraiture. The surface shows a smooth handling of brushwork that emphasizes subtle tonal transitions and a restrained palette, while the compositional arrangement presents the sitter in a direct, almost confrontational pose. Formal qualities include a balanced vertical format, restrained chiaroscuro, and a focus on psychological presence rather than decorative detail.
History & Provenance
The painting titled The Painter Kristian Zahrtmann was created in 1889 by the Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi. It is an oil on canvas portrait depicting the painter Kristian Zahrtmann and measures 63.7 cm in height by 49.4 cm in width. The work entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display.
The painting is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst (the Danish national gallery), as recorded by its Wikidata entry. It is catalogued there as a portrait in oil on canvas, dated 1889, with dimensions of 63.7 × 49.4 cm.
No accession number is listed in the available sources, and no exhibition history beyond its inclusion in the museum's collection is documented.
Overview
Vilhelm Hammershøi’s oil portrait of fellow Danish artist Kristian Zahrtmann was completed in 1895. Executed in a restrained palette of greys, beiges and deep blacks, the work presents Zahrtmann from the chest upward, his head turned slightly to the right. The painting resides in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Vilhelm Hammershøi (), often anglicised as Vilhelm Hammershoi (15 May 1864 – 13 February 1916), was a Danish painter.


















