Picnic By Odense Aa

Hans Andersen Brendekilde (1857-1942). "Skovtur ved Odense Aa", 1897-1898. The painting belongs to Funen Art Museum, but is now at Møntergården in Odense. Photo: Wermund Bendtsen Fotografi ApS.

Intro

This painting by H.A. Brendekilde, was commissioned and it portrays well-known people from Odense’s high society. Despite the people being the most important element in the picture, Brendekilde was clearly engrossed in depicting the nature of Funen.

Skovtur ved Odense Aa (Picnic by Odense Aa), H. A. Brendekilde, 1897-1898. The picture was commissioned and portrays well-known people from among Odense's middle classes. Although the people were the most important element in the picture, Brendekilde has ranked the rendering of nature equally high. The painter, H.A. Brendekilde depicted both the light and the dark sides of Funen in his pictures. From romantic hollyhock idyll to stark social realism. Some of Brendekilde's pictures embody the Morten Korch-dream of life in the country surrounded by the nature of Funen. The spring pictures, especially, with their masses of anemones exude elements of Funen. But there are also works such as the famous Udslidt (Worn Out). It shows an old farm labourer collapsing while gathering some of the very annoying stones which are also part of the acclaimed Funen soil. H.A. Brendekilde was born in the village of Brændekilde south-west of Odense. Some of his pictures were deemed major works in Danish art while the more popular part of his production was never recognised as 'real' art.

This location is part of the exhibition 'Funen – at the centre of the universe', at Møntergården in Odense. Read more about the exhibition on our website.