Kai Nielsen (b. Svendborg 1882, d. Frederiksberg 1924)
“Aarhuspigen” (The Aarhus Girl), also called “Staaende Kvindefigur” (Standing Female Figure) or “Vaagnende Kvinde” (Awakening Woman), 1921. Signed Kai Nielsen. Bronze. H. 173 cm.
Literature: Poul Uttenreiter: “Kai Nielsen”, Slesvigsk Forlag, Copenhagen-Flensburg 1925, pp. 54–55. The version in the collection at Statens Museum for Art (National Gallery of Denmark), Copenhagen, reproduced. Literature: Vilhelm Wanscher: “Kai Nielsen. Hans Liv og Værker” (His Life and Works), P. Haase & Søn, Copenhagen, 1926, reproduced pp. 67–68. Literature: Nina Kai Nielsen “Billedbogen om Kai Nielsen”, Dafolo, Frederikshavn, p. 178. Literature: Christian Gether: “Billedhuggeren Kai Nielsen 1882–1924”, Borgen, Copenhagen 1986, cat. no. 24, the version in the collection of Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, reproduced p. 187 and on the cover. Literature: “Kai Nielsen 1882–1924”, Faaborg Museum 1995, version from Aarhus Town Hall reproduced p. 38. Literature: Sofie Olesdatter Bastiansen & Anna Manly (ed.): “Kai Nielsen - Født af hverdagen” (Born of everyday life), Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek and Faaborg Museum 2024, detail of version on the cover. Provenance: The Hagemann family, Denmark. Acquired approx. 1930 by Gunnar Aage Hagemann (son of G. A. Hagemann). In 1917, Gunnar Aage Hagemann acquired Bergsjöholm Castle near Ystad in the region of Skåne, Sweden. From approx. 1930 and until the sale of the castle in 1966, this version of “Aarhuspigen” was displayed in the large hall of the main building. Owned by the Hagemann family until today.
The sculpture was originally commissioned for installation at the entrance to Aarhus Stadium in 1921. After a fire, it was moved to the park by Aarhus City Hall in 1948. Other versions of the sculpture are in the collections at KUNSTEN Museum for Modern Art in Aalborg (Inv. NK 676, artistic sandstone), Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen (Inv. MIN 2718, bronze) and Statens Museum for Kunst (National Gallery of Denmark), Copenhagen (Inv. KMS 5830, cement). In 2019, Bruun Rasmussen sold a green patinated version of the sculpture for a hammer price of DKK 1.6 million. Other versions are displayed publicly at Kunstcentret Silkeborg Bad, Hjørring Gymnasium & HF and Typografernes Hus, Copenhagen.
Condition report available on request.
Please note: The item is subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Act. In the event of a hammer price of DKK 50,000 or more, including buyer’s premium, the buyer must submit a copy of a valid photo ID and proof of address in order to collect the item.