Thorvald Hellesen Pioneering Cubism

This is a new book. Condition: Brand New.

"Colour orgies [ ] slung up on the walls." This was just one of many caustic remarks aimed at Thorvald Hellesen's first and last exhibition in Norway, held in 1919. He would never again exhibit in his native country, where he was gradually forgotten. In Paris, Hellesen became part of the Cubist circle in Montparnasse. Here he got to know Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Albert Gleizes and Fernand Leger. In around 1920, he finally achieved critical acclaim. He became a member of Section d'Or, was a frequent Salon exhibitor, and had his work reproduced in Der Sturm and De Stijl. "Among the Cubists, Hellesen is one of the most interesting," declared Amedee Ozenfant. This richly illustrated and well researched catalogue illuminates the whole span of Hellesen's Cubism. His interactions with Orphism, Crystal Cubism and Mechanical Cubism are explored, together with his attempts to exploit Cubism in interior design and fashion. The book also examines Hellesen's status as an outsider in Norway and partial insider in Paris and subsequently as an overlooked pioneer of the Norwegian and Nordic avant-garde. Text in English and Norwegian.

Book details and technical specifications

Format: Hardback
ISBN13: 9788281541504
Published: September 2025

Number of pages: 138
Width: 230 mm
Height: 285 mm
Depth: 20 mm

Publisher: Nasjonalmuseet