Vilhelm Bjerke-Petersen (b. Frederiksberg 1909, d. Halmstad, Sweden 1957)
“Den gyldne fugl. Et familiebillede” (The Golden Bird. A Family Painting), 1939. Signed v.b.-p. 39. Oil on canvas. 97×130 cm.
It is a painting with transparent figures as pioneered and used by the Belgian artist René Magritte. The time for its execution is interesting, 1939, the year World War II broke out. If one looks carefully at the painting there are elements in it showing the fear many people had in 1939. ...Sigurd Schultz's review of the painting in 1943 does not mention threats, it describes it as a family painting tending to be of a symbolic nature with references back to the artists Johannes Holbek and Jens Ferdinand Willumsen. This is understandable considering the German occupation of Denmark at the time when the painting was exhibited and the review was written. He does not point out either the possible inspiration from triptych altar pieces featuring the Holy Family.
Literature: Sigurd Schultz: “ Maleri og Digt”, Nationaltidende, Copenhagen, August 28th. 1943. Literature: Troels Andersen (ed): “Vilhelm Bjerke Petersen. En retrospektiv udstilling”, Silkeborg Kunstmuseum, 1986. Literature: Mette Højsgaard and Helle Behrndt (eds): “Kunst Arkitektur Design 30erne”, Kunstforeningen, Copenhagen, 2004. Literature: Karen Friis Hansen and Dorte Kirkeby Andersen (eds): “Vilhelm Bjerke Petersen”, Silkeborg Kunstmuseum, 2006. Literature: Christian Gether, Dorthe Rugaard Jørgensen Maria Lauerberg: “Triumph of Desire: Danish and International Surrealism”, Arken Museum of Modern Art, Ishøj, Denmark, 2008. Exhibited: “Surrealistic demonstrations with Erik Olson, Harry Carlsson and Wilhelm Freddie”, Rådhuspladsens Udstillingslokale, Copenhagen, 1940. Exhibited: Kunsthallen, Copenhagen, 1943. Exhibited: “Kunst Arkitektur Design 30erne”, Kunstforeningen, Copenhagen, 2004. Exhibited: “Vilhelm Bjerke-Petersen -Retrospective exhibition”, Silkeborg Kunstmuseum, 2006. Exhibited: “Triumph of Desire - Danish and International Surrealism”, Arken Museum of Modern Art, Ishøj, Denmark, 2008.
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Modern paintings, sculptures and prints, 13 June 2023