Provenance: Private collection, Denmark. Acquired directly from the artist. Not previously offered for sale.

The painting will be included in the appendix of the future third and final volume of Ane Hejlskov Larsen's catalogue raisonné of Per Kirkeby's works, covering the period 1990–2018.

The tree has always been seen as a symbol of the life cycle from birth to death, the endless changing of the seasons, and an axis that connects earth to sky; deeply rooted in Western mythology, religion, and culture. For Per Kirkeby, the tree is a recurring motif, its roots stretching back to the German Romantic period. But Kirkeby is not a landscape painter; he is a painter of nature, digging deeply into the material while engaging with broader perspectives. His work captures the sensations of the moment, the feelings, as well as the larger structures and stories that unfold within the frame of the canvas.

According to Ane Hejlskov Larsen, Per Kirkeby’s paintings are marked by ambiguity. At first glance, they may seem abstract, but there will always be a hint of something recognizable – in the form of figures, colour, or, at the very least, an entry through the title.

This also holds true for the work “Træ” (Tree) from 1983, which we are pleased to offer at this auction. Interpretation, of course, is subjective, but slowly the motif reveals itself, and the world opens up to the viewer. The most dominant feature is the glowing green figure placed to the left of the center, pulling the visual memory toward the beech forests of Denmark’s Golden Age. The figure becomes a comforting and recurring anchor, from which the eye can explore further. The tree’s trunk is represented by solid brown color elements – a rhythmic foundation constantly challenged by more complex arrangements. Vibrant, warm orange-brown flames flow along the right edge, while cooler tones of white, ice blue, and dark grey create an inviting passage into the image.

The surface of the painting is structured from multiple perspectives and spaces, where we are both immersed in the natural experience, yet also distanced as observers.