The Painter Kristian Zahrtmann 1889 - 1890

Vilhelm Hammershøi painted this oil on canvas portrait of fellow painter Kristian Zahrtmann, sometime around the turn of the 20th century. Hammershøi, working in Denmark, was known for his muted palette and introspective scenes. This portrait is no exception. We see Zahrtmann, a contemporary artist, depicted with half of his face obscured in shadow, a visual device which speaks to the artistic and social milieu of the time. The prevalence of such portraits within artistic circles highlights the period's focus on individual psychology and the artist's inner world. It also serves as a commentary on the institutional nature of the art world, where artists often moved within specific social circles, painting and promoting one another. To understand this work more fully, we might delve into exhibition records, artists' letters, and critical reviews from the period. The art historian's role is to situate such works within their complex social and institutional contexts.