Artwork
Negro Musicians in the Jungle
Negro Musicians in the Jungle is an oil painting by Erik Stæhr-Nielsen. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Negro Musicians in the Jungle is an oil painting executed in 1921 by Danish artist Erik Stæhr‑Nielsen. The work belongs to the genre‑scene tradition and is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents two nude figures positioned within a dense, shadowy jungle. One figure stands, raising a right arm, while the other sits, lifting a left arm. The stark contrast between the exposed bodies and the surrounding foliage suggests a focus on primal expression rather than narrative detail.
Technique & Style
Stæhr‑Nielsen employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing the illuminated forms of the figures to emerge from a dark, vegetative background. Thick impasto and visible brushwork give the surface a tactile quality, emphasizing the play of light on flesh and foliage alike.
History & Provenance
Created shortly after the First World War, the painting entered the national collection of Denmark and now resides in the Statens Museum for Kunst. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s early‑20th‑century interest in domestic artists who explored modernist approaches to traditional subjects.
Artist & collection
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Negro Musicians in the Jungle