Christian Benjamin Olsen (Danish, 1873-1935) "Returning Home, 1918"
Oil on canvas. Signed 'Chr. Benjamin Olson 1918' (lower right).
Catalogue Note: The Danish people have an intimate relationship with the sea dating back to the rapacious Vikings who settled on the peninsula situated between the North Sea and Kattegat in Northern Europe. Throughout the country's history ship building, fishing and trade have been the primary industries; with most natives having some sort of ties to the trades, including Danish artists. Christian Benjamin Olsen is one such artist who was fascinated with ships and the various temperaments of the sea.
Spending much of his time in the fishing village of Skagen, located at the northern most point of Denmark, Olson would paint the many ships coming and going in the harbor. Judging from the detail in Returning Home, Olsen must have been familiar with shipbuilding. He also shows sensitivity to the effects of atmosphere and light. He meticulously paints the rosy reflections of the setting sun on the evening clouds and calm harbor waters and portrays the shadows caste from the tall ships onto the water. His skills as a Marine painter are undoubtedly equal to his contemporaries Frederick Sorenson, Fritz Melby, and Vilhelm.
24 x 34 in.
The Greenwich Gallery, Greenwich, Connecticut.
Private Corporate Collection, Toronto, Canada.

No in-paint or restoration.