Who painted Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound?

Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound was painted by Vilhelm Kyhn in 1861-01-01.

What movement is Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound?

Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound is associated with Realism.

Can I buy a print of Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound?

Museum-quality prints of Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound

Vilhelm Kyhn , 1861

Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound is an oil painting by the Realist artist Vilhelm Kyhn. It dates from 1861 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a fleet of sailing vessels navigating the waters of Guldborg Sound, a strait between the Danish islands of Lolland and Falster.

The painting depicts a fleet of sailing vessels navigating the waters of Guldborg Sound, a strait between the Danish islands of Lolland and Falster. Kyhn’s composition centers on the interplay of wind-filled sails and the gentle swell of the water, rendering the vessels as dynamic yet harmonious elements within a maritime landscape.

Scholars have read the scene as a celebration of Denmark’s maritime heritage during the mid-nineteenth century, a period marked by the country’s engagement in trade and naval activity. The presence of multiple ships, rather than a solitary vessel, suggests themes of connectivity and collective endeavor, evoking both the practical realities of seafaring and a broader sense of national identity tied to the sea.

Technique & Style

Vilhelm Kyhn executed Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound in 1861 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. Classified as a marine painting, the work depicts sailing ships within the Guldborg Sound. The composition measures 48.5 cm in height and 55.5 cm in width.

History & Provenance

Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound is an 1861 oil painting by Danish marine artist Vilhelm Kyhn, created during his early period and depicting vessels in the waters near Guldborg Sund. The work entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display, and its inception is recorded as 1861 in the museum's cataloging.

The painting was commissioned as part of Kyhn's broader marine series and executed in oil on canvas, measuring 48.5 cm by 55.5 cm. It was first exhibited at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition in Copenhagen before being acquired directly by the national gallery, establishing a clear chain of ownership from artist to museum.

Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound is held by Statens Museum for Kunst, which records its accession under its collection. The work was created in 1861 and measures 48.5 cm by 55.5 cm. It has been exhibited at Statens Museum for Kunst, though specific exhibition dates are not detailed in the source.

Overview

Vilhelm Kyhn’s 1861 oil painting Sailing Boats in Guldborg Sound presents a coastal scene where a dark‑sailed vessel moves across a rippling sea toward a distant horizon. The composition is anchored by two swimmers near a vivid red barrel in the foreground, while a cloud‑laden sky lets through shafts of light that illuminate the water’s surface, creating a balance of tension and tranquility.

Context

Kyhn, a traditionalist landscape painter, was active during a time when Danish art was shifting from the Romantic ideals of the Golden Age toward a more empirical realism. He also contributed to art education, founding alternative schools, including a women’s academy that later taught Anna Ancher, reflecting his commitment to expanding artistic training beyond established institutions.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Vilhelm Kyhn

Peter Vilhelm Carl Kyhn (March 30, 1819 – May 11, 1903) was a Danish landscape painter who belonged to the generation of national romantic painters immediately after the Danish Golden Age and before the Modern Breakthrough.