Unknown work by Jorn

Magisk dans – a true Jorn

Only rarely does an unknown work surface by an artist of the calibre of Asger Jorn (1914-73), whose oeuvre has been subject to such scholastic scrutiny both nationally and internationally. The formidable and characteristic painting from 1944, entitled Magisk dans (‘Magical Dance’), has nonetheless hitherto eluded scholars, which it is why it has not been registered in Guy Atkin’s catalogue of Asger Jorn’s works.

Art historian and Jorn expert Troels Andersen, who has conducted a study of the painting consigned to Bruun Rasmussen, confirms its authenticity. Magisk dans will therefore be featured in an addenda to Atkin’s catalogue where it will be registered as “1944 no. S38b” at the Museum Jorn, Silkeborg.

Friendship with Nils Adolf Wedel

Magisk dans has never before been offered for sale and originates from the collection of Swedish artist Nils Adolf Wedel (1897-1967), who acquired the painting directly from Asger Jorn. The painting has been in the possession of the family ever since.

Jorn and Wedel’s roads crossed in Copenhagen when in November 1945 Jorn was planning an exhibition of Danish art to be held in Sweden and Niels Wedel attended the autumn exhibition Høstudstillingen. In the summer of 1946, Ager Jorn travelled through Sweden and visited, among others, Nils Adolf Wedel in Orust north of Gothenburg. Presumably, Magisk dans came into the possession of the Swedish modernist either during their joint preparations for the exhibition or during Jorn’s visit.

Relationship with Elna Fonnesbech-Sandberg

In 1940, Jorn became acquainted with the 20-year-older art collector, patron of the arts, and painter in her own right, Elna Fonnesbech-Sandberg (1892-1994). Her immense art collection included works by some of the most influential 1920s artists within classical Modernism, including Harald Giersing, Vilhelm Lundstrøm, Olaf Rude, William Scharff and Edvard Weie. When World War II broke out her husband’s tea merchant’s business suffered so badly that she was compelled to sell her art collection on auction.

Around this point in time, the young Asger Jorn turned up and convinced Elna Fonnesbech-Sandberg to create an entirely new collection based on CoBrA painters, including Henry Heerup, Carl-Henning Pedersen, Egill Jacobsen and himself. She followed his advice and in just a few years she created a large art collection that took up considerable wall space in her residential villa in Frederiksberg. Here she opened the doors to her home each Wednesday, allowing art lovers to appreciate the new movements in Danish art.

Didaska – love art

Asger Jorn and Elna Fonnesbech-Sandberg established a close relationship and in the summer of 1944, Jorn and his son spent a couple of months with Elna at her summerhouse in Tibirke. Here Jorn painted a number of works, most of which depict closely connected or intertwined birdlike figures. They are often rendered with pale orange, representing the much-noted hair colour of his hostess.

Works from this period have therefore understandably been interpreted as representing the intense erotic attraction between Asger Jorn and Elna Fonnesbech-Sandberg. These artworks are referred to as “Didaska paintings”, which is an abridgement of Elna’s nickname “Dida” and the name ”Aska”, which was the alias Jorn often used when signing his paintings.

There is no proof that Magisk dans was created during Jorn’s stay with Elna Fonnesbech-Sandberg, but with its frolicking birdlike figures rendered with the characteristic orange hue, the painting can no doubt be seen to refer to the Didaska paintings. 

Magisk dans was sold at Auction 811, and originates from the collection of Nils Adolf Wedel.

Preview: 4-8 March

Auction: 8-12 March

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