Press release -
Paper in Focus – Significant Hammer Prices and Museum Acquisitions at Bruun Rasmussen
At the themed auction Art on Paper, a range of works from the 16th century to the early 20th century achieved high hammer prices, attracted museum interest, and garnered international attention. The auction’s impressive results confirmed the growing status of works on paper among both collectors and institutions.
“Sketches offer collectors a different gateway into art history, bringing them closer to the artist’s process by revealing the considerations behind a finished work. Paper not only enabled artists to experiment – graphic prints also democratized art, making it more accessible to a wider audience. Today, it’s a field attracting increasing attention both in Denmark and internationally,” says Søren Kjerk Holmstrup, Specialist in Old Art at Bruun Rasmussen.
International market interest
Strong sales of works as diverse as Rembrandt and Gerda Wegener testified to the breadth of the auction. There was significant international interest – not least for a collection of 16th-century works by the German painter, printmaker, and theorist Albrecht Dürer. Other highlights included three rare prospects by Mathias Ferslev Dalager featuring sought-after Norwegian views of Christianssund, Christiansstad, and Bergen – works noted for their precise rendering and fine colouring.
“Art on paper can sometimes appear understated in expression, but if you take a closer look, there’s plenty of substance, sensitivity, passion, and even horror in many of them. It’s precisely this contrast that makes them so captivating,” says Camilla Bruun Stoltze, Specialist in Old Art at Bruun Rasmussen.
The auction also featured works by Danish Golden Age artists, whose motifs revolve around nature, intimate family life, and the quiet moments of everyday life – themes that resonate strongly in our turbulent times. Bruun Rasmussen is currently seeking works on paper and paintings from this period for the major autumn themed auction focused on Golden Age painting.
The Hammershøi fever continues
For years, the artist Vilhelm Hammershøi has been a highly sought-after name on the international auction market. A hand-signed photogravure by him, estimated at DKK 2,000, sold for an astonishing DKK 55,000. The result underscores the enduring fascination with Hammershøi’s artistic universe and illustrates how works on paper offer a more accessible path to his art today, as his oil paintings trade in the million-krone range.
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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.
