Ida Hammershøi: The identity of art's most famous 'faceless woman'

Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi is known for his paintings of quiet, light-filled rooms. A recurring figure in these paintings is his wife, Ida, often depicted with her back turned to the viewer. This mysterious portrayal has intrigued art lovers and critics alike. Hammershøi and Ida married in 1891, and she appears in about 100 of his paintings. She is usually shown in a black dress, her face hidden, which leaves her emotional state open to interpretation. This enigmatic quality adds a layer of intrigue to Hammershøi's work. Hammershøi was fascinated by the light in his home in Copenhagen. He captured the way sunlight streamed through the rooms, creating a serene and almost otherworldly atmosphere. His work is often compared to that of Edward Hopper and the Minimalism movement of the 1960s. Despite his talent, Hammershøi's work was not widely recognized during his lifetime. It wasn't until the 1990s that his paintings gained significant attention. Today, he is considered one of Denmark's most important artists. His 1907 painting 'The Music Room, Strandgade 30' sold for $9. 1 million last year. A new exhibition in Switzerland, the first solo show of Hammershøi's work in the country, features 18 of his paintings from private collections. Hammershøi and Ida led a quiet, almost reclusive life. They traveled to major European cities like Munich, Berlin, Paris, London, and Rome but avoided the social scenes there. Instead, they focused on their home, which Hammershøi painted 66 times in a decade. The motif of a lone woman in an interior setting likely drew inspiration from artists like Vermeer and Caspar David Friedrich. These paintings often depict a peaceful, domestic life, with light streaming through windows. Hammershøi's friend, Carl Holsøe, also specialized in similar scenes. Hammershøi and Ida's engagement was swift, partly to help Ida escape her difficult home life. Her mother had mental health issues, and Hammershøi wanted to provide Ida with a more stable environment. They traveled together frequently, and Ida often wrote letters to Hammershøi's mother, who was a strong presence in their lives. Hammershøi's mother kept a scrapbook of his achievements and was very involved in their lives. The nature of Hammershøi and Ida's relationship remains somewhat of a mystery. The numerous paintings of Ida suggest a close bond, but few concrete details are known. Hammershøi painted Ida for the last time in 1907, a challenging year for the couple. They were mistakenly arrested in Rome due to counterfeit banknotes, which caused Ida significant distress. Hammershøi kept this final portrait of Ida until his death. After his passing, Ida faded from public records until her death in 1949. Her death was listed as a suicide, but it is believed she may have refused treatment for an illness. Ida remains an enigma, her life and thoughts largely unknown. The power of Hammershøi's paintings lies in their ability to make us wonder about her, keeping her story alive through art.