Jens Ferdinand Willumsen

Who was Jens Ferdinand Willumsen?

Jens Ferdinand Willumsen was a Danish artist who was associated with the movements of Symbolism and Expressionism. Although he was Danish, Willumsen lived almost half of his life in France. Besides painting, Willumsen had interests in sculpture, architecture, ceramics, and photography, and was an accomplished engraver. His sculpture The Great Relief was included in the 2006 Danish Culture Canon as one of Denmark's cultural masterpieces.

Willumsen had associations with Skagen in the north of Jutland which he first visited in 1906. It was here that he carried out most of the preparatory work on his painting Badende børn på Skagen strand which he completed in 1909.

The J.F. Willumsens Museum in Frederikssund exhibits many of his works.

Willumsen was an influence for Kitty Lange Kielland, who attempted to simplify her art in order to follow his style.