[From the Community Collection, a public trust in Agincourt, Iowa]

ASMUSSEN, Christian [1873–1940]

“Forest Retreat”

oil on canvas / 14.5 inches by 20 inches

1930s

Christian Asmussen was a Danish painter and graphic artist. As a pupil of Soren Lund, Asmussen was educated at the Royal Art Academy in München but then worked abroad most of his life. Already having worked as a theatre painter prior to his artistic studies, Asmussen began his work on decors in Europe’s finest theatres in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria. He returned to Denmark to concentrate on working as a painter in 1900. His works were primarily landscapes and he was best known for his bright forest scenes from the Danish nature park “Dyrehaven”. He also produced decorative wood- and linocuts, one of which is also in the Collection.

Danish emigration to Iowa focussed in the communities of Elk Horn and Kimballton, about seventy-five miles south and west of Agincourt. This painting was acquired at an auction sale there several years ago. It is a recent anonymous donation.