Today, I’m introducing the Danish artist Hans Andersen Brendekilde, one of the most renowned Danish painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Brendekilde is best known as a master of landscapes and genre scenes. By his time, color photography was already well established, fundamentally changing the philosophy of oil painting and the reasons behind what artists chose to create. Take a look at Brendekilde’s paintings—there’s a kind of warmth and softness in the light, with countless small details of interiors, clothing, and surroundings lovingly selected. Something very hard to do with the photography at that time.
Personally, I prefer his genre scenes over his landscapes. His landscapes often feel too loud and garish in color, without evoking much emotion. They’re beautiful and bright, but somewhat ordinary. With people, though, it’s a different story—each painting seems to carry an entire narrative within it.
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Hi, I'm Rauf Aliev. 