Christine Swane
Encyclopedia
Christine Swane née Christine Larsen (29 May 1876, Kerteminde
– 16 August 1960, Farum
) was a Danish
painter who first associated with the Funen Painters
before developing her own increasingly Cubist
style.
, one of the key members of the Fynboerne or Funen Painters, with whom she associated while young. She adopted their Naturalistic approach and strong use of colour as evidenced by her early flower paintings. After studying at the Danish Academy (1898–1901) under Viggo Johansen
, she was instructed by Jens Ferdinand Willumsen
, Fritz Syberg
and Harald Giersing
. Around 1910, she met Karl Isakson
and Sigurd Swane
who introduced her to contemporary French art. Her marriage with Swane ended in 1920 when they were divorced. Their son, Lars Swane (1913–2002), was also a successful artist.
, her earlier still lifes often depict indoor scenes or window sills with strong attenntion to detail. She slowly developed her own style creating more decorative, geometrical works with Cubist associations and thin transparent colouring, dominated by cool yellows, blues and greens. Over the years, she became an ever more sensitive Colourist, benefitting from her travels to France, the Netherlands, Belgium and England (1938), Italy (1957) and frequent trips to Sweden and Norway. Her stays on Bornholm
and in her summer house in the north of Jutland also influenced her style.
In addition to still lifes, she painted portraits, landscapes and forest scenes. One of her most notable works is the mosaic depicting female gymnasts at the women's baths in Frederiksberg
(1951) in a flat, geometrical style. Her interest in ceramics, possibly influenced by Willumsen, also developed considerably over the years as did her scuplture and needlework. From 1937, she exhibited her paintings with the Grønningen
cooperative. In 1943, she was awarded the Eckersberg Medal
.
Kerteminde
Kerteminde , is a town in central Denmark, located in Kerteminde Municipality on the island of Funen. The town has a population of 5,698 . It is a small harbor town surrounded by farms...
– 16 August 1960, Farum
Farum
Farum is a town in the northeast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, 20 km northwest of Copenhagen. The town has a population of 18,521 .The town is part of Furesø municipality. Until 2006, it constituted Farum municipality....
) was a Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
painter who first associated with the Funen Painters
Funen Painters
The Funen Painters or Fynboerne were a loose group of Danish artists who formed an art colony on the island of Funen at the very beginning of the 20th century. They were strongly influenced by Kristian Zahrtmann who taught at the Artists Studio School in Copenhagen from 1885 to 1908...
before developing her own increasingly Cubist
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
style.
Biography
Christine Swane was the sister of Johannes LarsenJohannes Larsen
Johannes Larsen was a Danish nature painter.-Biography:Born in Kerteminde on Funen, Larsen studied art at the Free School in Copenhagen under Kristian Zahrtmann in the 1880s. There he met other painters from Funen, notably Fritz Syberg and Peter Hansen, both from the southern port of Faaborg, and...
, one of the key members of the Fynboerne or Funen Painters, with whom she associated while young. She adopted their Naturalistic approach and strong use of colour as evidenced by her early flower paintings. After studying at the Danish Academy (1898–1901) under Viggo Johansen
Viggo Johansen
Viggo Johansen was a Danish painter and active member of the group of Skagen Painters who met every summer in the north of Jutland. He was one of Denmark's most prominent painters in the 1890s.-Career:...
, she was instructed by Jens Ferdinand Willumsen
Jens Ferdinand Willumsen
Jens Ferdinand Willumsen was a Danish artist who was associated with the movements of Symbolism and Expressionism. Although he was Danish, Willumsen lived almost half of his life in France...
, Fritz Syberg
Fritz Syberg
Christian Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Syberg, generally known as Fritz Syberg, was a Danish painter and illustrator, one of the reactionary Fynboerne or "Funen Painters" group living and working on the island of Funen.-Biography:Syberg, from a poor background in Fåborg, first served a house...
and Harald Giersing
Harald Giersing
Harald Giersing , a Danish painter, was instrumental in developing the classic modernism movement in Denmark around 1910-1920...
. Around 1910, she met Karl Isakson
Karl Isakson
Karl Oscar Isakson was a Swedish painter who spent much of his professional life in Denmark where he is considered to be one of the fathers of Modernism. He had close associations with the Bornholm school of painters and made many paintings of Christiansø.-Biography:Isakson was brought up in...
and Sigurd Swane
Sigurd Swane
Sigurd Swane was a Danish painter and writer. He studied in Copenhagen at the Royal Danish Academy of Art....
who introduced her to contemporary French art. Her marriage with Swane ended in 1920 when they were divorced. Their son, Lars Swane (1913–2002), was also a successful artist.
Artwork
Inspired by French trends, particularly Henri MatisseHenri Matisse
Henri Matisse was a French artist, known for his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter...
, her earlier still lifes often depict indoor scenes or window sills with strong attenntion to detail. She slowly developed her own style creating more decorative, geometrical works with Cubist associations and thin transparent colouring, dominated by cool yellows, blues and greens. Over the years, she became an ever more sensitive Colourist, benefitting from her travels to France, the Netherlands, Belgium and England (1938), Italy (1957) and frequent trips to Sweden and Norway. Her stays on Bornholm
Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
and in her summer house in the north of Jutland also influenced her style.
In addition to still lifes, she painted portraits, landscapes and forest scenes. One of her most notable works is the mosaic depicting female gymnasts at the women's baths in Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg Kommune is a municipality on the island of Zealand in Denmark. It surrounded by the city of Copenhagen. The municipality, co-extensive with its seat, covers an area of and has a total population of 98,782 making it the smallest municipality in Denmark area-wise, the fifth most...
(1951) in a flat, geometrical style. Her interest in ceramics, possibly influenced by Willumsen, also developed considerably over the years as did her scuplture and needlework. From 1937, she exhibited her paintings with the Grønningen
Grønningen
Grønningen is a Danish artists cooperative whose members arrange exhibitions and similar events. Founded in 1915, it is one of the oldest and most important groupings of its kind and currently has 54 members...
cooperative. In 1943, she was awarded the Eckersberg Medal
Eckersberg Medal
The Eckersberg Medal is an annual award of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts...
.