Willumsen

For the first time, a major exhibition in Germany is dedicated to the Danish "all-around artist" Jens Ferdinand Willumsen. Celebrated in Scandinavia as a defining figure of modernism, he has largely faded from memory in Germany.  

A painter, graphic artist, sculptor, ceramicist, and architect, Willumsen is considered one of the most distinctive artistic personalities of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His career, spanning more than 70 years, transcends conventional artistic boundaries and resists classification within established styles or groups. Willumsen continues to fascinate with his highly individual style, the wide range of themes in his art, and his life as a cosmopolitan.

In his early years, his work was shaped by the prevailing realism, but following his first trip to Paris and Southern Europe in 1888, his oeuvre transformed radically. Encounters with new French art, particularly his acquaintance with Paul Gauguin, left a lasting impact. Around 1900, he was influenced by life reform movements, as reflected in his large-scale beach scenes. Over the following years, the Danish artist led a nomadic life between Copenhagen, Paris, and the Côte d'Azur, developing an increasingly unique style apart from current trends. From 1910, his exposure to the works of the Spanish Mannerist El Greco became crucial for him: exaggerated gestures, distorted body forms, and dramatic lighting effects characterized his paintings of this period.

Willumsen was one of Denmark’s first modern artists to blend painting, sculpture, and applied arts in new ways. In the 1920s and 30s, he focused on large series depicting women's portraits, vibrant views of Rome and Venice, and expressive Alpine landscapes. Self-portraits, sometimes with enigmatic meanings, also appear repeatedly in his work.  

Featuring nearly 100 works, this exhibition aims to bring Willumsen into the spotlight beyond Scandinavia. Anchoring this remarkable artist within the broader context of European modernism is long overdue.