You can be a detective with Hammershoi. Any piece can be analyzed and speculated at ad nauseum. They are massive with widely interpretable elements.
There are three technical elements that make his work interesting, despite the lack of vibrance (which I typically love): his palette, shadowing and light.
He uses an understated palette - most of his paintings almost look black and white. Critics have taken this as the expression the banality of everyday life. Personally, I don't see it as that - or at least not the defining characteristic of his work, but it is interesting.
His shadowing is incredible. Notice the shadows of the door and easel:
Notice the light coming in through the windows. It's not golden hour, and there's no drama, just semi ambient light coming in through the windows.
But the fourth element, which is my favorite, is the mystery. Each work seems like a puzzle.
Here's some other pieces:
Interior with young man Reading (1898):
What is he reading? Again, check out the shadowing.
Interior of Courtyard:
What is she looking at? Did she drop something? Look at the light and darkness.
Here's some elements of Interior with Easel that are unsettling:
- Why is the painting on the wall so high up?
- Why is the easel turned towards the wall, away from us, with no chair or even room for a chair?
- Why is the door half open?
The mysteries really are endless with Hammershoi's works.
Love Hammershøi!