Palle Nielsen

For the Danish chess player, seePalle Nielsen (chess player).

Palle Louis Nielsen(8 August 1920 – 5 September 2000) was a Danish illustrator and graphic artist. Considered to be one of the masters of his times, his works include drawings, watercolours, woodcuts and linocuts.

Biography

Born in Copenhagen, Nielsen was brought up in the harbour area of the old town.Nielsen attendedKunsthåndværkerskolen(School of Arts and Crafts) from 1937 to 1939. Thereafter he studied privately underAksel Jørgensenbefore entering the painting school at theRoyal Danish Academy of Fine Arts(1945–47). In 1946, he married the graphic artistElsa Nielsen.

Nielsen first exhibited at theCharlottenborg Spring Exhibitionin 1949. During the course of the 1950s, he gained a reputation as one of Denmark's foremost graphic artists working with a wide variety of art forms includingwoodcuts,linocuts,etching,lithography,monotypingas well as with pen, paper and watercolours. A recurring theme in his work is the existence of modern man. His striking urban and technological landscapes present a mixture of splendor and horror, exposing the root causes of war and violence.In 1950, he visitedHamburgwhich inspired his earlyOrfeus og Eurydike(Orpheus and Euridice) illustrations. First published in book form in 1959, the work contains 53 linocuts. When it was republished in 1970 in a smaller format, it firmly established Nielsen's reputation.

Nielsen's etchings and prints appear in a developing series of works, the most important beingDen fortryllede by(The Endangered City, 1953),Alter for en by(Altar for a City, 1969),Den sovende by(The Sleeping City, 1955-1957),Parklanded(Park County, 1972),Nekropolis(Necropolis, 1970),Lethe(1985),Den store Verdensbunker(The Great World Bunker, 1950),NarcissusandMiraklens tid(Age of Miracles, 1984–90). Shortly before his death, he summarized his philosophy as follows: "Man is good from the outset but then mismanagement sets in, and you become a scoundrel... For if you obstruct existence, it will turn against you..."

From 1967 to 1973, Nielsen was a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

Over 700 works by Palle Nielsen are in the collections of Denmark's museums.His works can also be seen in theMoMA Museum of Modern Artin New York and in theBritish MuseumandVictoria & Albert Museumin London.

Awards

In 1958, Nielsen was the first contemporary Dane to receive an award at theVenice Biennale.He received many other awards including theThorvaldsen Medaland thePrince Eugen Medal(both in 1963).

Literature

• Eriksen, Svend (1957).Wood Engravings by Palle Nielsen.
• Nielsen, Palle; Jacobsen, Signe; Svensson, Gerda; Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann (2008).Palle Nielsen: Orfeus og Eurydike og andre værker.Vejle kunstmuseum.ISBN978-87-7388-078-4.
• Rex, Jytte; Nielsen, Palle (2008).Palle Nielsen: Timebog.Gyldendal A/S.ISBN978-87-02-04699-1.
• Wivel, Mikael; Nielsen, Palle (2002).Palle Nielsen in memoriam.Sophienholm.ISBN978-87-87883-84-9.

External links

• Comprehensive listing of Nielsen's biography, education, exhibitions, works, awards and positions held
• of Palle Nielsen's works from Clausens Kunsthandel