CoBrA and Kvium  

60 years have passed since the founding of the CoBrA-group, and since then members of the group have made their mark in the international art world. The comprehensive auction in Vejle presents a great view of the colouristic and motivic variety unfolded in the universe of the group.

Structure and play

All through his life as an artist, Egill Jacobsen has used the mask as a model for his works. The mask is a structure that he has varied and improvised on with amazing energy – just take a look at the works included in the auction: The earliest painting is from 1943 and presents a mask form in profile. Later, the mask is formalized as in ”Lyrisk improvisation” from 1958: The composition consists of the well-known triangular forms combined with the motif of the sun. Light yellow, green and blue tones support the composition and leave an impression of life-affirming transparency and lightness. More than 25 years later, in 1974, Egill Jacobsen was still painting away with all his might. At this point he was working with a remarkable painting, structured as a variation of an Indian elephant mask and inspired by a trip to this vast country. This painting is yet another demonstration of the painter’s ability to vary his circle of motifs.

1974 was also the year Appel made the fine – almost calligraphic - composition that we are greatly pleased to be able to offer for sale at the auction.

Recycled art

Like Egill Jacobsen, Henry Heerup succeeded in creating a distinct and completely unique universe. A fine private collection is offered for sale, comprising rare early compositions along with one of the highly coveted paintings from the Ove Sprogøe collection. As a child of the inter-war years Heerup was familiar with what recycling involved, and there is no doubt that this stimulated his creativity. One of the earliest works is painted on an old lid from a tin of margarine – another is painted on a crude board. This not only testifies to the scarcity that several artists had to live with in this period, it also gives the materials a surprising and charming quality. Even if, in time, Heerup became a recognised artist who could afford to buy canvas and paint, he never lost his eye for the possibilities in the waste products of industrial society. This is evident in “The Month of May” from 1980: True to Heerup’s style, this painting is painted on an old piece of hardboard. At this point, the artist is more than seventy years of age, but as far as the motif is concerned, it is hard to imagine a more life-affirming message on the cycle of life and the vitalizing effect of art.

Painters of darkness

In contrast to Heerup’s light universe, the demonic element in Michael Kvium’s seems at times rather dark and bleak. In "A Bad Story" Michael Kvium yet again firmly establishes himself as one of the masters of craftsmanship in contemporary art. In the interplay between the apathetic figure, the alluring colour scheme and the painter’s unparalleled technique, we are at once attracted and repulsed. “Hands-up Drawing” is another painting in which the artist plays tricks on the viewer and draws him or her into the composition.

‘The Dark Painting’ is Kvium’s trademark, but he is not the first to have dealt in dark universes. In the autumn of 1969 Kurt Trampedach was staying at The Danish Academy in Rome where he worked intensively and un-intermittently for three months. This resulted in a number of large, highly textural works. Among several other works by this artist, we are pleased to be able to present Kurt Trampedach’s magnificent double portrait from the period he spent in Rome, characterised by sculptural modelling and a very beautiful bronze-like surface. There can be no doubt that this is where Trampedach created the basis for his reputation. King Frederik IX visits Trampedach in the studio an early morning and tersely exclaims, Rembrandt!

At Pedersholm Manor you will also find no fewer than 18 paintings by Albert Bertelsen in addition to works by Leif Sylvester, Knud Nielsen, Johannes Larsen and others.

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