A Mandolinist 1921

Harald Giersing painted 'A Mandolinist' using oil on canvas, though the precise date of its making is unknown. Its blocky forms suggest that it was painted sometime around 1917. Painted during a time of great social upheaval, this work reflects the changing role of art and the artist in society. Giersing was part of a generation of artists who sought to break away from the traditions of the past and to create a new art that reflected the modern world. The mandolin player, a traditional subject in art, is here rendered in a deliberately crude and anti-academic manner. Its simplified forms and bold colors suggest an interest in primitivism and folk art. The figure itself appears anonymous, almost like a mannequin, and there is a sense of detachment and alienation. To fully understand this work, we need to research the art scene in Copenhagen in the early 20th century. It's necessary to investigate the artist's relationship to the avant-garde movements of his time, and to consider the social and political context in which he was working.