“Hammershøi’s Shadow” Bridget Alsdorf (Princeton University) | Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts
Arts
Join us for an enlightening lecture on the profound significance of shadows in nineteenth-century Danish culture, titled "Hammershøi’s Shadow" by Bridget Alsdorf, a distinguished Professor at Princeton University. Taking place on November 3, 2023, at the Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts in Providence, this thought-provoking event will delve into the philosophical motif of shadows, as depicted in the works of prominent Danish figures such as Hans Christian Andersen, Søren Kierkegaard, and Vilhelm Hammershøi.
Through her expertise in European art from the seventeenth to the mid-twentieth century, Professor Alsdorf will explore how shadows transcend mere design elements or realistic details, instead serving as a metaphor for the essential connections that underpin Hammershøi's artistic vision. Focusing on his minimalist and proto-abstract interiors, particularly those featuring his wife and collaborator, Ida, the lecture will elucidate the social nature of artistic creation, the interplay between artistic mediums, and the broader philosophical inquiries illuminated by artists.
Professor Alsdorf's distinguished background and extensive research, coupled with her authorship of two books, "Fellow Men: Fantin-Latour and the Problem of the Group in Nineteenth-Century French Painting" (2013) and "Gawkers: Art and Audience in Late Nineteenth-Century France" (2022), make her a leading authority on the subject. Currently, she is working on her forthcoming book, which explores the themes of intimacy and collaboration in modern Scandinavian painting, photography, and silent cinema, supported by a prestigious 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship and a grant from the American-Scandinavian Foundation.
This captivating event promises to shed new light on the captivating world of shadows in Danish culture, and attendance is free of charge. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights into the profound connections between art, philosophy, and the human experience.