Mrs Fernanda Nylund

Mrs Fernanda Nylund

1892

Oil on canvas

Mått 125,30 x 79,50 cm Ram 140,50 x 95,30 x 7,50 cm

GKM 1014

Gift of the heirs of Otto and Charlotte Mannheimer, 1935

A woman in a light-coloured dress meets our gaze directly. Seated in a rattan chair, she leans forward slightly, resting her elbows on her thighs. Her brown eyes are steady, and her dark hair is arranged in an elegant updo. Next to her stands a small table filled with lush potted plants. The walls behind her are painted warm terracotta, and a window reveals tree leaves turning yellow—a suggestion of early autumn. Her central position and confident look give the impression of someone fully aware of the viewer’s presence. The woman portrayed is Mrs. Fernanda Nylund, a Danish-Finnish painter and cultural figure. She trained through extensive study trips across Europe. In the 1890s she was an influential presence in Copenhagen’s cultural circles and a member of a cycling club—something unusual for women at the time. Cycling was often considered inappropriate or even “too sensual” for women, and it required wearing trousers, which societal norms generally forbade. Nylund exhibited regularly throughout her career.