Homey Scene With Flowers And Lady Reading 1897 Norwegian Oil Painting By Hansen

The signature at the bottom right with the date and ink inscriptions on the stretcher lead us to the Norwegian painter Henrik Asor Hansen (1862 - 1929). In the center of the scene is a lady reading, her delicate figure draped in a light yellow dress that exudes a sense of grace and refinement. With her back turned to the viewer, she is engrossed in reading, her posture conveying a subtle tension that hints at the depth of her focus. The play of light and shadow envelops the room in twilight, creating a feeling of depth. The artist's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the depiction of the surrounding elements, particularly the vibrant bouquets of fresh flowers adorning the table. From the intricate petals of chrysanthemums to the bold hues of red tulips, infusing the room with color and fragrance that enhances the overall atmosphere of contemplation. The artist's careful rendering of the scene suggests a desire to preserve the harmony and beauty of the moment, as if fearful of disrupting the delicate balance that exists within the frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, signed, framed.
Size app.: 48.5 x 38.5 cm (roughly 19.1 x 15.2 in), frame is 68 x 57 cm (roughly 26.8 x 22.4 in). Overall in very good condition with minor to minimal wear. Please study good resolution images for cosmetic condition. In person actual painting may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight of app. 3.7 kg is going to measure 6 kg packed for shipment.
Hansen, was a painter who painted a number of paintings with motifs from Setesdal. He started an education as a naval officer but broke from this and started at the art academy in Copenhagen. In 1886, he was enrolled as a pupil of the Danish painter Kristian Zahrtmann. Around 1890 the family moved to Norway and settled near Mandal, but in 1898 Asor Hansen moved alone to Bergen to start a winter painting school. From 1900 to 1910, Asor Hansen was a painter in Bergen. During this time, he was chairman of the Bergen Art Association for a period. Hansen died on the journey from Bergen to Setesdal on the boat outside Stord. "Setesdalsmuseet" has a collection of paintings by Asor Hansen. The same has Mandal City Museum and Sørlandet Art Museum. The first painting that Haugesund Art Association bought when the association was founded in 1913, was Asor Hansen's Family Visit in Sætersdalen. Other paintings of him from Setesdal are Elvestryk with mill house, Byklevandet, Stabbur in Setesdal . He painted and took many paintings in Spain, but they are not so well known in Norway.