Julius Paulsen (1860–1940) was an artist who achieved great recognition during his lifetime, and yet, despite this, it is mostly his more famous peers P.S. Krøyer, L.A. Ring, J.F. Willumsen and Vilhelm Hammershøi, who have been highlighted by posterity. Paulsen was introduced to the Skagen painters by Karl Madsen. In 1885, he went on his first trip abroad together with P.S. Krøyer, Anna and Michael Ancher and Viggo Johansen. The trip included France, where he also later exhibited at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1889 and in 1900.
Artistic Influence, Intimate Figure Studies and the Freedom of the Body
Paulsen was influenced and inspired by the many different themes and styles that were dominant during his day, and also by old Italian and Dutch masters such as Tizian and Rembrandt. There are therefore traces of Impressionism, Symbolism and Realism in his works, as well as Renaissance and Baroque art. Julius Paulsen is one of the artists who has painted the most nudes – male and female. He explored the human body as an artistic object and introduced the nude female figure to Danish art. He became an eminent portrayer of the human body.
Golden Landscapes, Atmospheric Interiors and Portraits
Paulsen was equally versatile in his choice of motifs and genres, his repertoire including everything from portraits to interiors and landscapes. In his landscapes, Paulsen liked to play with the effect of light on the surrounding nature, be it the blinding backlight, the subtle evening light or the moonlight. He generally chose to reproduce landscapes in parts of Denmark that were less commonly depicted in Danish art. He worked a lot in North Zealand, for example, where areas around Tisvilde and Gilleleje were some of his favourite motifs. But Jutland, his native island of Funen and motifs from his travels abroad also feature in his works. His masterpieces include “Adam and Eve” (1887), “Den hellige Cæcilia” (Saint Cecilia) (1898), the double portrait of Laurits and Frederikke Tuxen (1907) and “Sankt Hans nat ved Tisvilde Strand” (Midsummer’s Eve on Tisvilde Beach) (1886).
