Paul Fischer

Paul Fischer prints bring the bustle and sunshine of turn-of-the-century Copenhagen into your home: flower sellers on Queen Louise's Bridge, shoppers on Amagertorv, summer evenings in Tivoli and bathers on the beaches of Hornbæk. Fischer was so closely linked with his city that he was called "Copenhagen's painter". Our collection of fine art prints includes his street scenes, beach and bathing pictures, posters and portraits.

About Paul Fischer

Paul Gustav Fischer was born in Copenhagen on 22 July 1860 into an upper-middle-class Jewish family. His father, Philip August Fischer, had started as a painter before building a successful business making paints and lacquers. Paul spent only two years at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in his teens, learning mostly from his father and working in the family factory from 1878 to 1888.

He showed regularly at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition from 1884 to 1902, and a picture published in the magazine Ude og Hjemme brought him into contact with the young Danish naturalist painters. After a stay in Paris from 1891 to 1895 his colours became richer and lighter, and he became famous for city scenes, not only of Copenhagen but of Scandinavia, Italy and Germany. His best years were between 1890 and 1910.

He also painted sunny bathing scenes and designed posters inspired by Steinlen and Toulouse-Lautrec. Although critics paid him little attention, his work sold well, and he won the commission from the King of Norway to paint the transfer of Norwegian sovereignty in 1905, over the more famous Laurits Tuxen. He married twice and died in Gentofte on 5 January 1934.

Style and Subjects

Fischer's city scenes are bright and lively, full of fashionable women, flower stalls, trams, bicycles and passers-by, painted with clear detail and fresh, light colour. Copenhagen's squares, bridges and canals appear in every season and in all kinds of weather.

His beach and bathing pictures are sunny and relaxed, with young women on rocks and sand, and his posters show the flat colour and bold design of the 1890s.

Famous Works

• Stalheim's Dancers from the Land of the Midnight Sun (1897). A poster from his years of interest in poster art.
• Norsk Margarine, Aug. Pellerin Fils & Co. (1897). An advertising poster for a Norwegian margarine maker.
• A Street Scene, Copenhagen (1902). Everyday life in the Danish capital at the height of his career.
• Flower Sellers at Queen Louise's Bridge. Flower stalls on one of Copenhagen's best-known bridges.
• Summer Evening in Tivoli. The famous Copenhagen pleasure garden at dusk.
• Three Young Women Buying Fresh Fish at Gammel Strand. Shoppers at the old fish market on the canal.
• Two Girls and a Japanese Parasol on Hornbæk Beach. A sunny beach scene north of Copenhagen.

Decorating with Fischer Prints

Fischer's Copenhagen street scenes bring cheerful city life to living rooms, kitchens and hallways, and suit Scandinavian interiors with pale wood, white walls and soft colour. A pair such as The Bustling Amager Square and Flower Sellers at Queen Louise's Bridge makes a lovely set.

The beach scenes suit bedrooms, bathrooms and summer houses, and his posters have the graphic punch for a kitchen, home bar or studio.

FAQ

Who was Paul Fischer?

Paul Gustav Fischer was a Danish painter who lived from 1860 to 1934. He is best known for lively, colourful scenes of Copenhagen street life.

Why is Paul Fischer called "Copenhagen's painter"?

His early paintings concentrated on city life in Copenhagen, and his many scenes of its streets, squares and bridges earned him the nickname.

Did Paul Fischer make posters?

Yes. Inspired by Théophile Steinlen and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, he designed posters in the 1890s, such as his advertisement for Norsk Margarine.

Where did Paul Fischer study?

He spent two years at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in his teens and otherwise learned mainly from his father, who had trained as a painter.

What major commission did Paul Fischer receive?

The King of Norway chose him, rather than Laurits Tuxen, to paint the transfer of sovereignty when Sweden returned Norway's independence in 1905.

Related Artists

• Carl Larsson: Swedish painter whose work he drew on
• Laurits Tuxen: leading Danish painter of the same era, his rival for a royal commission
• Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen: poster artist who inspired his posters
• Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: poster artist who inspired his posters
• Peder Severin Krøyer: Danish painter of beach and city scenes of the same generation