Gerhard Henning

The painter, sculptor and ceramist Gerhard Henning was born in Sweden. At the age of two he moved to Denmark with his family and became a Danish citizen in 1931. Initially a house painter, he previously studied in Stockholm and Göteborg and made extensive study trips to Italy and France. His early works were oil paintings, later turning to watercolors and drawings dominated by a romantic style, rich in ornaments and decorative Art Nouveau. In Denmark he worked for a long time in the Royal Danish Porcelain Manufactory, but also lived in Sweden. In 1909, he gave up oil painting and concentrated on watercolors, drawings and graphics. At the same time, he became more involved in ceramics and sculpture, mostly known for his statues of female nudes. Later, mythological and historical motifs emerge. His ceramic creations are counted among the most beautiful European porcelain works of his time. Henning was a member of the fine arts academies in København and Stockholm. In 1937 he received the Thorvaldsen Medal.

His sculpture Moderne pige (Modern Woman/Girl) received Honorable Mention at the 1932 Art Competitions in Los Angeles. The original of the 1930 creation, which was approximately 1.60 m, a life-size sculpture, was erected in the garden of the New Glyptotek in København (Copenhagen) in 1933. For the first time in this oeuvre, he created a new type of woman, slimmer and with short clipped hair. Copies in public space were set up in 1969 in Nykøbing / Falster and in 1974 on a square in København. There is also a small, only 40 cm high version made of plaster.