Press release -
Early Studies by Hammershøi Under the Hammer
At this year’s autumn live auction on Thursday, October 30, two early works by Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864–1916) will go under the hammer. These unusual paintings offer a rare insight into the artist’s experimental approach to form and his depiction of the existential conditions of human life, and both served as studies for major works now held in Danish museums.
In the late 1880s and early 1890s, Hammershøi was not yet known for his iconic interiors and back-turned female figures. The works on offer reveal his bold experiments with both theme and form.
The Darkness of Humanity
"The strangest painting that has yet been created in our proper country," remarked the art critic Karl Madsen about Hammershøi’s depiction of Job.
In Job (1887), Hammershøi portrays a naked man sitting on the edge of a bed, with an inward gaze and an outstretched hand in a gesture that is both searching and reflective. He is enveloped by a dim, silent space, where the mood balances between stoic calm and profound human suffering, making the figure a living symbol of the pain and patience represented by the Biblical Job. The work demonstrates Hammershøi’s ability to render inward, private experience universally resonant.
The painting was previously part of the collection of the Danish established artist Peter Brandes and serves as a study for Hammershøi’s enigmatic painting of the same title at the Hirschsprung Collection.
Beauty as Pure Form
With Standing Woman (1893), we encounter another solitary figure in sparse surroundings: a nude woman with her arm raised above her head. The painting references classical sculptural ideals while its angular lines anticipate avant-garde and abstract tendencies in contemporary European art. The absence of facial features reduces the figure to pure form, and the work served as a study for Hammershøi’s later monumental Artemis at the National Gallery of Denmark.
Both works provide a unique insight into Hammershøi’s early artistic exploration, where existential themes meet radical formal experimentation, confirming his status as one of Danish art’s most enigmatic and significant masters.
The live auction will take place on October 30 at Bruun Rasmussen, but bidding is already open. All works can be viewed in person from October 23–29 at Lyngby, Nørgaardsvej 3.
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Bruun Rasmussen has since 1948 sold art, design, jewellery, wristwatches, antiques and collectibles such as wine, books, coins and stamps. As the leading auction house in Denmark, we sell over 75,000 items every year at our Online Auctions at bruun-rasmussen.dk and at Live Auctions at our auction house in Lyngby.
Our specialists are the most experienced and competent in the industry. The work in the auction house places great demands on our knowledge of art and trends on the market. This way, we can provide valuations and advice of the highest quality – which has become our trademark – and thereby offer the best lots from all categories and achieve high hammer prices for the benefit of our customers.
At Bruun Rasmussen, we are one of Europe's most modern and digital auction houses, and it is only natural for us to adapt to changes in the market. Innovation is part of our DNA, while we are also deeply rooted in our history.
In 2022, after having been family-owned through three generations, we became part of the international “Bonhams Network”, expanding our global reach and access to specialists all over the world. We strategically present and sell art where it makes the most sense in relation to potential buyers.
