The Fondation Etrillard is collaborating with the Kunsthaus Zurich as part of the exhibition “Vilhelm Hammershøi. The Eye That Listens”, from 3 July to 25 October 2026.
The Kunsthaus Zurich is showcasing the work of Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864–1916). Featuring more than fifty paintings by the Danish artist, this exceptional retrospective offers an insight into the painter’s world. Through his silent interiors, diffused lighting and infinitely subtle nuances, he created an enigmatic and profoundly unique oeuvre. Although still relatively unknown, it is now regarded as one of the most fascinating examples of European modern art.
Nicknamed the ‘Vermeer of the North’, Vilhelm Hammershøi incessantly painted quiet interiors where time seems to have stood still. Among the motifs he frequently depicted were his wife Ida, usually shown from behind in their Copenhagen flat – as was already customary during the Romantic period – and the window. This element, which lends structure to the composition, offers Hammershøi the opportunity to create interplay between the interior and the exterior: he subverts the window’s primary function, which is to allow a view of the outside. The windows in his paintings are, in fact, opaque and deprive the viewer of what is happening on the other side. Nevertheless, the panes filter the rays of light, casting shadows onto the interior spaces and creating subtle shades of colour.
In addition to his interior scenes, Vilhelm Hammershøi also produced paintings of rural settings and outdoor landscapes. Depicted in the same style as his interior scenes, these uninhabited rural landscapes emphasise the calm and the silence of nature. Though absent at first glance, the human presence is revealed discreetly through smoke rising from a chimney or a road in the distance. With trees and hills lending rhythm to the compositions, these landscapes are bathed in a dreamlike atmosphere, created by the subtle shades of colour that form a unique veil of light. Portrayed as silent spaces, both his interiors and landscapes invite contemplation and reflection.
Published in German and English, the exhibition catalogue is supported by the Fondation Etrillard. As they turn the pages, readers are immersed in an enigmatic world where speculation reigns, as Vilhelm Hammershøi left very little information about his work and even burnt his correspondence. An elusive painter, whose work transcends the ages in a silence imbued with presence.