Vilhelm Hammershoi(1864-1916)
A great Danish artist and one of my best favorite painters.
Although he seems to have liked black and white dark tone, in actually many colors were elaborately mixed, which enhances the deep, quiet, mystic and poetic atmosphere of his paintings.
I first met his painting at a permanent exhibition of The National Museum of Western Art, Japan. Surrounded by well-known colorful works by Impressionism in the 19th century, the one of Hammershøi powerfully caught my eyes, even though it was the smallest and darkest picture at the floor.
He was hardly affected by art scenes in the same centuries he lived, yet quietly, strongly and maybe passionately established his style alone in his apartment where he lived with his beloved wife.
He still inspires many people. Karl Lagerheld is one of them.
Karl Lagerfeld has also said that the campaign shots were inspired by the work of the Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershoi, whose austere interiors with sunlight flooding in through the sash windows are the backdrop for silent feminine meditations. (quoted by Chanel News)
