The Historic
Danes Hall of Waupaca
Where History and Hospitality Meet
Picking Berries on the Heath (1915)
(labeled: Bærplukkerne på heden)
Johannes Wilhjelm (b. 1868 - d. 1938)
A later Skagen Painter, Johannes Wilhjelm entered the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1888. He then studied art under famed Skagen Painter P.S. Krøyer at the Kunstnernes Frie Studieskoler from 1892 to 1894. Later, in 1903, he also spent a year studying under Kristian Zahrtmann. His brightly colored paintings often depict scenes with people in the fields or on the beaches of Skagen. He traveled extensively, particularly in Italy.
J'The berry pickers on the heath' is a large oil on canvas. Sign. 'J. Wilhjelm 15 '. the painting is 84 x 110 cm. (107cm x 133cm with frame). Picking Berries on the Heath was exhibited at Denmark's premier art exhibitions, Charlottenborg's spring exhibition 1916 as exhibition number 553. Exhibition sticker 1916 on the back is still intact. Charlottenborg's exhibition catalog 1916 page 43.
In this masterpiece, the young women are in the field picking cranberries. It is interesting to note the connection to Wisconsin, the largest producers of cranberries in the USA.
