Art is the Solution

Interior from Strandgade with Sunlight on the Floor Source: WikiArt Yesterday, I wrote about the work of French artist Felix Vallotton, who is known for his paintings of interior scenes. Although Vallotton’s style is very unique, his choice of subject matter was not. Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi, a contemporary of Vallotton, is also famous for his paintings of interior spaces (although the two men never met and their work is extremely distinct). So, today, I want to continue to discuss these images of domestic life and take a look at Hammershøi’s work. His Interior from Strandgade with Sunlight on the Floor is a particularly startling image. Like all of his work, the painting can be described as a work of realism. Yet, the painting also pushes the boundaries of this style; his work captures spontaneous moments of everyday life, seemingly disconnected. While these moments feel random, they also convey a sense of deep, existential loneliness. The empty rooms, solitary figures, a...