Greenlandic art and culture

The fascination of 'the country far to the North' is by no means a new phenomenon. It was present long before the country was colonised by the missionary Hans Egede in 1721 in the name of the Danish king. In the early 19th century several Danes were stationed in Greenland as missionaries, priests, teachers and administrators. But also historians, writers and artists would flock to Greenland where they were heavily impressed by the breathtaking scope of Greenlandic nature and its inherent beauty, beyond good and evil. Artistically speaking, this led to a turning point for Danes as well as Inuits.

Before this turning point, 'art' or 'Eqqumiitsuliorneq' had been but one tool among other tools used by the Inuits on a daily basis. Literally, 'Eqqumiitsuliorneq' means 'fashioning things that look strange'. The Inuits, then, expressed their artistic aptitude through ingeniously and elaborately processed natural materials, made to symbolise their shamanist world of ideas and the tradition of their forefathers.

The canvas as medium, as it is known in a European context, was not introduced into the Inuit idiom until the arrival of Danish explorers. Aron of Kangeq (1822-1869) is thus considered the father of Greenlandic visual art, the first artist to employ the European linear perspective. Just as Inuits were influenced by European culture, art and history, Danish artist were also inspired by Greenlandic nature and the world of shamanism in which body, soul and nature are deep-rooted and inseparable elements.

A perilous journey

I.E.C. Rasmussen (1841-1893) is considered the first Danish Greenland painter with an international audience and the creator of some of the most beautiful renditions of Greenlandic culture and nature. His motifs vary from depictions of the open sea to portrayals of everyday life in Greenland. Focussing on the grandeur of nature he manages to create small narratives. Bruun Rasmussen presents one of his main works, depicting a Greenlandic landscape in which a sealer returns to his family. This painting is one of I.E.C. Rasmussen's most impressive renditions of Greenlandic nature, and it clearly demonstrates his fascination with bright coastlines. With great realism and empathy he creates a highly sensitive and deeply attentive painting. Towering, dark rock formations in the foreground confront the viewer with the untameable wildness of nature. Man lives at the mercy of nature which is further emphasised by the persons that are completely surrounded and dwarfed by majestic mountains. The tender and sensuous colours in the background, however, lend a certain kindness to this painting which is clearly one of Rasmussen's most powerful creations.

The auction also presents a historical painting, depicting Erik the Red visiting Greenland for the first time and naming the area, AD 982. The painting shows Erik and his crew on board a Viking ship at high sea with icebergs in the background and whales in the foreground.
The motif of the painting is very dramatic and heavily characterised by motion and force. The ship cuts through the waves where icebergs constitute dangerous obstacles and where the coming of night further emphasises the perilous nature of the journey. This, in turn, is intensified by the compositional structure of the painting. The course of the ship remains unaltered, however. As a painter, I.E.C. Rasmussen possessed a highly sophisticated sense of detail. This particular painting, for instance, demonstrates his unfaltering ability to depict distinct types of vessels with great technical skill. The impressive wealth of detail illustrates the scrupulous and careful preparation of the painting.

Treasures of nature

The upcoming auction also features works by A. Riis Carstensen (1844-1906), Peter Rosing (1892-1965) and Julius Andersen (20th century) as well as two well-made paintings by Emanuel A. Petersen (1894-1948).

Furthermore, Bruun Rasmussen presents a collection of Greenland-related items consisting of narwhal tusks in various sizes, walrus skulls and two very nice and beautifully prepared polar bear hides.

Read more about the auction