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Alfred V. JensenFarmer Returning at Dusk (Hjemad), c. 1915c. 1915
c. 1915
$3,500
£2,616.34
€3,018.01
CA$4,900
A$5,177.66
CHF 2,784.58
MX$61,986.27
NOK 34,887.47
SEK 31,951.86
DKK 22,540.98
About the Item
Alfred Victor Jensen was a Danish painter active in the early twentieth century, recognized for his landscapes, coastal scenes and even portraits of the Danish royal family. Born in Næstved in 1891, he came of age artistically in a period when Scandinavian painting was deeply influenced by Impressionism and a reverence for rural life. Farmer Returning at Dusk (Hjemad), painted circa 1915, exemplifies Jensen’s ability to capture the serene poetry of everyday countryside moments. This oil on canvas depicts a lone farmer at day’s end, and it reflects the artist’s impressionist-inspired focus on natural light and atmosphere as much as the literal subject matter.
In the composition, a solitary figure walks home along the edge of a vast cornfield, his back turned toward the viewer. The scene is remarkably simple and balanced: the expansive field of ripe golden grain dominates the foreground and middle ground, while a few modest farm buildings and trees are visible on the distant horizon. Above them stretches a broad sky bathed in late sunlight. The horizon line sits relatively high on the canvas, emphasizing the earth and the honest labor associated with it. Jensen’s compositional simplicity directs attention to just the essential elements, land, sky, and the human presence, free of any extraneous details. This uncluttered design imbues the work with an immediate clarity and quietly monumental quality: the farmer and his field are presented as the central fact of rural existence. The gentle recession of the field toward the horizon and the diminishing scale of the distant buildings create a sense of depth, but the overall impression is flat and calm, suggesting the wide, open expanses of the Danish countryside. By placing the human figure slightly off-center and seen from behind, Jensen allows the viewer to psychologically step into the scene, following the farmer’s path toward home.
Light and color are the key expressive forces in this painting. The time of day is dusk, the warm end-of-day atmosphere permeates everything. A rich, golden light from the setting sun suffuses the canvas, tinting the clouds and sky with rose and amber tones and casting a mellow glow over the landscape. The field appears almost luminescent, each stalk of grain touched by the sun’s last rays. Jensen’s brushwork is loose and visibly textured, capturing the flicker of light on the crops and the subtle shifts of color in the sky. This technique, derived from Impressionism, allows the optical mixing of paint strokes to suggest vibrant luminosity and airiness. The painting’s palette is dominated by warm earth tones such as ochres, russets, soft greens,which harmonize to reinforce the feeling of a sunset glow. Cool grays and blues are reserved for parts of the sky and gentle shadows, creating contrast and indicating the approach of evening. The overall effect is a tribute to the transformative power of light, where the glowing sunset almost becomes the true subject of the scene. In this respect, Jensen’s work aligns with a broader trend in Danish art of his time, using a simple rural motif primarily as a vehicle to explore the radiant effects of light in nature.
The human figure of the farmer is modest in scale compared to the landscape, yet he provides a vital narrative focus. Dressed in work clothes and a hat, he walks with a relaxed, tired gait, carrying his wooden rake over shoulder, a timeless gesture signaling the conclusion of a day’s labor. By showing the man from behind, Jensen emphasizes anonymity and universality: this could be any farmer, returning home after work, which makes the scene broadly relatable rather than a specific portrait. The farmer’s form creates a gentle focal point amid the horizontal expanse of the field; our eyes are drawn to him and then naturally follow his forward movement into the pictorial space. Notably, the path he treads is not overtly drawn in; instead, the viewer intuitively senses his route along the margin of the field toward the distant farmhouse whose roofs catch the evening light. This subtle connection between the figure and the barely visible destination ahead adds emotional resonance, the idea of homecoming. There is a quiet dignity in the farmer’s posture and solitude. He is integrated with the land around him, a small dark silhouette against the glow of the crops and sky, underscoring the close relationship between people and the land in agrarian life.
In summary, Farmer Returning at Dusk illustrates Alfred V. Jensen’s strengths as a landscape painter attuned to light, composition, and atmosphere. Though Jensen also painted coastal scenes and even official portraits, it is in works like this – intimate views of country life – that his impressionist leanings shine. The painting’s warm end-of-day glow and uncomplicated composition capture a fleeting moment with both realism and artistry, inviting the viewer to share in the quiet reflection of a farmer’s journey home. Such a scene not only documents a way of life in early twentieth century Denmark but also transcends its locale by touching on universal themes of work, homecoming, and the restorative calm of nature’s evening spectacle.
signed lower right
oil on canvas
unframed 48 × 60 cm (18.9 × 23.6 in)
framed 60 × 73 cm (23.6 × 28.7 in)
Provenance:
A Danish private collection.
Condition report:
Very good condition overall. Colours remain clear and strong.
The frame shows a visibly aged patina, with several older repairs and areas of surface wear, which complement the rustic character of the subject.
Due to the condition of the frame, minor flaking may occur during transit; however, the painting will be packed with great care.
- Creator:Alfred V. Jensen (1891 - 1981, Danish)
- Creation Year:c. 1915
- Dimensions:Height: 18.9 in (48 cm)Width: 23.63 in (60 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Very good condition overall. Colours remain clear and strong. The frame shows a visibly aged patina, with several older repairs and areas of surface wear. Due to the condition of the frame, minor flaking from the gilding may occur during transit.
- Gallery Location:Stockholm, SE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1445217523272
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