MODERN 346 CD WILLIAM SCHARFF b. 1886, d. 1959 "Høns ved Slibestenen", 1934. Signed William Scharff. Oil on canvas. 120 x 213 cm. Literature: Ernst Mentze: "William Scharff - En Kunstner og hans Tid", Copenhagen 1958, reprod. p. 171. Exhibited: XX Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte di Venezia,1936, XIV (sticker 135). Exhibited: International Exhibition of Modern Art, Paris 1946. Exhibited: The Official Danish Art Exhibition, Dienst Voor Schone Kunsten 'S-Gravenhage, October 1948, inv. no. 23. Exhibited: Grønningens 40 års Jubilæumsudstilling, Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, January 22 - February 13, 1955. Exhibited: Kunstforeningens William Scharff-udstilling at Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, November 14 - December 3, 1958, cat. no. 126. Exhibited: "William Scharff. Mellem myte og modernisme. Retrospektiv ud- stilling", Nivaagaard <strong>and</strong> Vejle, Fyns <strong>and</strong> Storstrøms Art Museums, March - November 2001. Provenance: Architect E. Græbe, Lund, Sweden. Hence by descent to the present owner. In a review of the exhibition at Charlottenborg in 1958, Kristian Romare writes the following about the painting “Høns ved Slibestenen” (Chickens by the Grindstone), published in Sydsvenska Dagbladet on November 25, 1958: ”The chicken painting occurs at a time when the experiments in monumental <strong>and</strong> symbolic effects of ”The Legends” <strong>and</strong> ”The Bog Woman”, Scharff’s Munch-Willumsen ambitions, have been clarified, when his life <strong>and</strong> creating work have found a calmer pace, with the artist in harmony with himself. He makes use of his formal experiences to create a quiet <strong>and</strong> fine balance. ”Høns ved slibestenen” has a classical composition, it is decorative but the discreet rhythmical displacements <strong>and</strong> tensions in the picture create life. There is still no touch of schematisation in the strokes. On contrary, the painting gathers in a firm grip what will become the painter Scharff’s signature: the chicken intimacy. These chickens are completely inscribed in the circles <strong>and</strong> ovals of the composition, so charmingly characteristic in their movements <strong>and</strong> attitudes, so chicken-like that you almost fear that there will be fleas in the canvas. The painting is intimate, with a slight sweet scent like in a chicken run in the rose-pink colouring <strong>and</strong> with something almost miniature-like in the refined carefully painted two-<strong>and</strong>-ahalf square meter’s composition”. DKK 150.000 / € 20.000 347 CD VILHELM LUNDSTRØM b. 1893, d. 1950 Still life with jug <strong>and</strong> apples. c. 1923. Unsigned. Oil on canvas. 73 x 93 cm. DKK 75.000 / € 10.000 118 BRUUN RASMUSSEN BREDGADE AUCTION 777 346
BRUUN RASMUSSEN BREDGADE AUCTION 777 347 119