Aksel Jørgensenartist • painterKopenhagen 1883-1957

Danish painter and graphic artist. Jørgensen made his debut in 1908 after private painting training. He was a teacher at the art academy in Copenhagen (1920-'53) and in that position influenced several generations of young Danish artists. He was also the founder and director of a graphic school and co-founder of an art association for workers. Jørgensen's social commitment was expressed in his early works in realistic scenes of the fringe of society, especially of pubs, brothels and demolished buildings. Later he also painted genre scenes, landscapes, portraits, nudes and cityscapes in an impressionistic style. His most important works are the colorful paintings about the life and work of the Danish writer and poet Holger Drachmann, which Jørgensen made in 1911-13.