Oluf Høst Painting

“I need the common people – the loneliness and the silent friendship of nature.” (Oluf Høst)

Oluf Høst was born March 18th 1884 in Svaneke on the Baltic island of Bornholm. Between 1906 and 1915 he attended various art schools, including The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and painter Harald Giersing's school.

Høst returned to Bornholm in 1929 and found inspiration in the unique atmosphere of the island: The herring smokehouses, the view of Gudhjem, the Midsummer Eve bonfires and not least the Bognemark farm that had become his main inspiration already by the end of the 1920's. In 1935 he bought this farm and established his second studio there.

In 1913 Oluf Høst married his fellow student Hedvig Wiedemann. They had two sons, Ole and Niels. Ole died in 1943 on the Eastern Front near Barwenkowo in Russia. A number of Høst's Bognemark paintings from the time following the death of his son are oriented towards Barwenkowo.

As early as the 1930's Oluf Høst had made his reputation as an important painter in the Danish art world. He won several prestigious awards, including in 1933 the Eckersberg Prize – the highest distinction a Danish artist could attain.

Høst was a member of The Free Exhibition from 1926, but he only participated occasionally and would sometimes not exhibit for years on end. It was very hard for Oluf Høst to part with his paintings. He would sometimes keep as many as 50 unfinished paintings in his studio. Also, he would often bring brushes and paint with him when he exhibited so as to be able to add a final touch to his paintings before they were sold.

One of his Bornholm works is now sold at online auction No. 604, 24 January 2006.

Prospective buyers are welcome to examine the painting personally from 9 January at the following address in Copenhagen: Amerika Plads 11, 2100 København Ø.