Artwork
A Landscape. The Island of Mors, jutland
A Landscape. The Island of Mors, jutland is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Fridolin Johansen. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Fridolin Johansen’s 1897 oil painting titled *A Landscape. The Island of Mors, Jutland* depicts a tranquil rural scene. The composition is centered on a winding dirt track that cuts through open fields beneath a pale, low‑lying sky. The work is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a simple yet evocative countryside: a gentle grassy slope descends toward the road on one side, while a steep, arid cliff with scattered yellow grass rises on the opposite bank. The sparse clouds and muted horizon convey a sense of quiet isolation, emphasizing the modest beauty of the Danish landscape.
Technique & Style
Johansen employs a pronounced impasto technique, laying thick layers of paint that create a tactile surface, especially evident in the sky’s rough texture. This method adds physical depth and a slightly unfinished quality, allowing light to interact with the raised pigment and enhancing the visual contrast between the soft fields and the rugged cliff.
History & Provenance
Executed in 1897, the painting entered the holdings of Denmark’s national gallery, the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to preserving works that document regional scenery and the artistic practices of late‑19th‑century Danish painters.
Context
Created during a period when Danish artists were turning toward naturalistic depictions of their own terrain, the work aligns with contemporary interests in plein‑air observation and the exploration of texture. Johansen’s focus on the Island of Mors situates the piece within a broader cultural appreciation for the distinct topography of Jutland.
Artist & collection
