Hammershøi. Painter of Northern Light

Milano, 2023, Rizzoli Electa. Cm. 29×25, pp. 176, tavv. 48 a colori n.t., ril. cartonato

The paintings of Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864–1916) have become increasingly popular due their almost contemporary aesthetic. Admired and celebrated during his lifetime, Hammershøi gradually fell into oblivion before being rediscovered in the 1990s. He is now recognized as the iconic painter of Nordic light and solitude.

This newly researched monograph presents the artist’s best works, many drawn from rarely seen private collections. Enigmatic and subtle, his paintings feature empty interiors, shades of gray, and the silhouette of a lone figure. Reminiscent of Edward Hopper, Hammershøi has an impassioned following who will appreciate this new volume.

Multiple scholarly texts and an illustrated chronology shed new light on Hammershøi’s art and explore links with contemporary artists highlighting Hammershøi’s singular genius and more radical aesthetic, which still engages and surprises us today.