Artwork
Lady Macbeth. Study
Lady Macbeth. Study is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Kristian Zahrtmann. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Kristian Zahrtmann, a Danish painter active at the turn of the twentieth century, produced the oil painting *Lady Macbeth. Study* in 1900. The work is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst and exemplifies his engagement with post‑impressionist aesthetics.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a solitary woman, presumed to be Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth, seated with her hands pressed to her chest. Dressed in a long, dark garment, her downcast expression conveys a mood of introspection and inner turmoil, reflecting the character’s psychological complexity.
Technique & Style
Zahrtmann employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated areas on the face and hands against a deepened background. This contrast heightens the figure’s presence and underscores the painting’s contemplative intensity, while the loose brushwork aligns with post‑impressionist tendencies.
History & Provenance
Created in 1900, the study entered the holdings of Denmark’s national gallery, the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on view. It forms part of Zahrtmann’s broader series of historical subjects, especially his focus on tragic female figures.
Context
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Zahrtmann was noted for history paintings that highlighted strong, often doomed women from Danish lore. *Lady Macbeth. Study* extends this interest to a literary heroine, illustrating his fascination with dramatic, emotional narratives.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Peder Henrik Kristian Zahrtmann, known as Kristian Zahrtmann, (31 March 1843 – 22 June 1917) was a Danish painter.
