Valdemar Schønheyder Møller
Valdemar Schønheyder Møller was a Danish painter best known for his luminous depictions of sunlight.
He began his artistic education in 1884 at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts but soon transferred to the Kunstnernes Frie Studieskoler, where he studied under the prominent painter P.S. Krøyer. During this period, he formed a close friendship with Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864–1916) and took a number of photographs that would later serve as the basis for some of Hammershøi’s early works. Møller was among the first Danish painters to experiment with photography as a creative tool.
In 1891, he moved to Skagen and became associated with the Skagen Painters, remaining there until 1893. In this vibrant artist community, he began his in-depth exploration of light and its visual effects.
In 1894, Møller relocated to Paris to join his brother Tyge, an art collector, and then settled in Fontainebleau in 1896. There, he continued his intense study of sunlight, creating a series of over 30 works centered on the direct radiance of the sun—often depicting it rising or filtering through trees. To capture the experience of light more authentically, he would sometimes stare briefly at the sun to reproduce the afterimages and color effects it left on his retina. His singular focus on light earned him the nickname “the painter of the sun.”
His paintings were innovative and made a significant contribution to Symbolism in the late 19th century, a movement in which the external world reflected inner states of mind. This was a natural focus for an artist who struggled with mental illness.
P.S. The Nordic countries have produced some of the most fascinating artists in history, and some brilliant women artists among them. Here are 10 Nordic women artists you should know!