Exhibition to Showcase Vilhelm Hammershøi’s Works, Including Pieces from Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr.’s Collection, Alongside Significant Works by American Minimalists Anni Albers, Agnes Martin, and Robert Mangold
Courtyard Interior at Strandgade 30, circa 1905
32 x 21 1/2 in.
PhillipsX unveils its latest exhibition, Stillness: Hammershøi and American Minimalism, from April 22nd to May 17th. Coinciding with the auction house’s May marquee sales in New York, the exhibition offers a unique exploration of the connections between the works of Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi and major American Minimalists such as Anni Albers, Agnes Martin, Robert Mangold, and Kenneth Noland. Highlighted within the exhibition are a selection of exceptional works by Hammershøi, including exemplary works from the collection of Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr. who served as the US Ambassador to Denmark from 1981 to 1983. Ambassador Loeb’s collection, hailed as the largest outside of Danish museums, provides a rare glimpse into the depth and breadth of Danish artistry, with Hammershøi’s creations taking center stage. By juxtaposing works such as Martin’s Untitled #10, 1998, on loan from a private collection, and Albers’ Triadic DR III, 1969 with Hammershøi’s paintings in the same space, the connections across artistic movements are illuminated in a new light.
Untitled #10, 1998
60 x 60 in.
On loan from a private collection
Jeremiah Evarts, Deputy Chairman, Americas, Senior International Specialist, 20th Century & Contemporary Art at Phillips, emphasizes the significance of this visual dialogue, stating, “Vilhelm Hammershøi’s importance in the art historical canon cannot be overstated, with his unparalleled ability to capture quietude and introspection on a canvas. With Stillness, our goal at Phillips is to draw a visual parallel between the boldly minimal work of Hammershøi and their conclusive answer in the works of the American Minimalists a half-century later.”
The exhibition delves into the shared atmosphere and motifs between Hammershøi and American Minimalists, both renowned for their ability to evoke space and contemplation through minimalistic elements. Hammershøi’s revolutionary approach to distilling subject matters to their bare essentials continues to captivate audiences with its timeless allure.
A standout feature of the exhibition is a significant work from Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr.’s collection, Courtyard Interior at Strandgade 30, circa 1905. This painting, portraying a female figure gazing out the window, exemplifies the grid-like structures that would later become synonymous with American Minimalism. It serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Hammershøi’s aesthetic vision on subsequent generations of artists.
Study of standing woman, seen from behind, 1884/1888
21 1/8 x 14 in.
Square within a Square (warm-grey), 1974
36 x 36 in.
Triadic DR III, 1969
20 1/4 x 17 1/2 in.
