The Art Rebellion

Peace, Love & Harmony – and Everything in Between

Labour and women’s movements, youth revolt, flower power, love and colourful clothing. The 60s is the decade that turned conventions upside down, questioned social norms and challenged the conventions of society. At the same time, it is also a period where popular culture had its breakthrough and changed the deeply rooted patterns forever.

In terms of art, a space was opened up for experiments and playful endeavours. Happenings, Fluxus, ZERO, Pop Art and Minimalism – just to name a few of the artistic directions that defined the period. The result is a diverse expression in terms of genre, material, media and significance – often in opposition to the existing art market. Today, many of the "rebellious" works are highly sought after among collectors.

Richard Winther - Conceptual and Picturesque

In Denmark, Richard Winther (1926-2007) was one of the most well-known people at the time, as performing artist, conjurer of controversy, enfant terrible and as a teacher, inspiration and mentor for future generations of artists. He regarded his own work as a form of continuous study that others could learn from – just as he himself learned through an almost scientific approach to his artistic material. Throughout his life, Winther continued his uncompromising approach to art within a variety of different genres, which intersected with each other and dissolved the boundaries between the categories.

Winther's Mythological and Biographical Universe

In his early years, Winther primarily worked with the abstract painting, but later it was mainly the figurative – primarily the human body – which occupied his thoughts. Through, among other things, model drawings and clippings of pin-ups from fashion and porn magazines – Winther played with identity in his works, and he assumed roles born in a mixture of fantasy and historical facts. He created his own mythology, which was continued in his works, forming a portrait of the artist and person Richard Winther.

Winther, who was a co-founder of Linien II (the Line II) in 1947 and the Ex-School in 1961, is generally sought after in the market today, and we often experience surprisingly positive hammer prices when his works are up for auction.

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On the Lookout for Works From the 50s and 60s

Winther, however, is not the only artist from the time period who is in demand on the auction market. At the higher end of the scale, we find the sale of Manzoni’s "Achrome" from 1961, which was sold for DKK 1.3 million at our December auction in Copenhagen.

In the more accessible end of the spectrum, there is also an interest in names such as Albert Mertz, Sven Dalsgaard, Al Hansen, Willy Ørskov, Arthur Koepcke - as well as in the Concrete style of Poul Gernes, Poul Gadegaard, Ib Geertsen, Gunnar Aagaard Andersen and others. These artists defined the 50s, 60s and 70s in Danish art history.

If you have works by these artists in your collection that you are considering selling at auction, then you are welcome to contact us for a free and non-binding estimate. Use our online valuation or drop by one of our locations.