Olaf Rude

04.04.58 – 20.04.58

Olaf Rude (1886-1957) was a famous Danish artist. A memorial exhibition was held here at Kunstnernes Hus in Rude's honor, and this took place from 5 - 20 April 1958. Olaf Rude included Cubism in some of his works, but later went in a direction towards a more liberated representation of nature. He mostly uses a modern and simplified expression in his pictures. Despite this, his works also shows everyday motives in some type of way, like what the Funen painters were known for. The exhibition showcased several of his works, both paintings and watercolors from 1903-1955.

Extract from the catalogue

Olaf Rude is one of the biggest artists in newer Danish art. He was one of the pioneers of the new colorist movement that flourished with so-called 'Bornhol school'. Besides Rude, this school includes great figures such as Karl Isakson, Edvard Weie and Oluf Høst. Together with Harald Giersing, William Scharff and Vilhelm Lundstrøm, the Bornholm School has exerted the most influence on the development of Danish painting in this century.

For us Norwegians, it may be of interest to note that Rude himself has mentioned Edvard Munch as a painter he 'admired beyond all limits'. But there are only a few genuine Munch inspired pictures in his production. In contrast, Matisse has had a certain influence on his form of expression. We can understand that. Because Rude loved clear and distinct speech and had a peculiar ability to estimate the full and strong timbre of color onto the canvas."

- The managment of Kunstnernes Hus.