Lot Essay
This early painting by Nolde clearly shows the influence of van Gogh with regard to the handling of paint and the thick impasto. Nolde was introduced to the art of van Gogh by his friend Schmidt-Rottluff who, like the other young Brücke artists, was fascinated by the Dutch painter's use of radiant colours and confident brushwork. The interior composition used in the present painting, however, also owes much to the works being executed by the Nabis painter Edouard Vuillard in the 1890s, who painted several works of his mother in an intimate interior in a very similar style.
As with his flower paintings, Nolde in these early years began to approach colour for its own sake. As Peter Selz writes, "... and it was these paintings which appealed to the Brücke painters as 'tempests of colour', causing them to invite him to membership ..." (Exh. cat., Emil Nolde, New York, 1976, p. 49).
The present painting, which features Caroline Vilstrup, Nolde's mother-in-law, was once owned by Hans Fehr, a lifelong close friend of Nolde who owned a large collection of early works by the artist and who wrote Emil Nolde, Ein Buch der Freundschaft.
As with his flower paintings, Nolde in these early years began to approach colour for its own sake. As Peter Selz writes, "... and it was these paintings which appealed to the Brücke painters as 'tempests of colour', causing them to invite him to membership ..." (Exh. cat., Emil Nolde, New York, 1976, p. 49).
The present painting, which features Caroline Vilstrup, Nolde's mother-in-law, was once owned by Hans Fehr, a lifelong close friend of Nolde who owned a large collection of early works by the artist and who wrote Emil Nolde, Ein Buch der Freundschaft.